Research Project

Tomás Arce earned his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the National University of Colombia in 2016. Since then, he has participated in multiple archaeological research and site management projects in Colombia, focused on understanding and conserving preceramic populations and sites located on the Bogotá high plateau and surrounding areas. He obtained a master’s degree in Quaternary and Prehistory from the University of Ferrara, Italy, where he conducted a technological and use-wear analysis of the lithic assemblage from the Roberto Amador site in Nicaragua. As part of this research, he developed an experimental archaeology program that enabled the interpretation of microscopic use-wear traces on lithic artifacts through high-power microscopy. His research interests include lithic technology, use-wear analysis, experimental archaeology, and geospatial approaches to identify spatial use patterns among early human groups. His current research will focuses on the exploration of early human settlement in northwestern Colombia, particularly in the Darién region and adjacent coastal plains.