Research

How did urban living affect human health? CityLife reconstructs the biological standards of living of past populations by integrating osteological analysis with ancient DNA, stable isotope analysis, bone histology, and computational modelling. Together, these approaches reveal patterns of health, nutrition, developmental stress, trauma, and longevity across 1,800 years of urban life.

How did cities sustain growing populations? CityLife investigates the resilience of urban food systems by reconstructing food production, distribution, and consumption. Combining stable isotope analysis with archaeological and historical evidence, the project explores how trade, environmental change, economic transformations, and cultural practices shaped diet and food security through time.

How did urbanisation transform human communities? Using ancient DNA and population genomics, CityLife reconstructs kinship, migration, population structure, and demographic change to examine how social networks evolved as Thessaloniki developed into a major urban centre.

How did cities shape human evolution? Dense populations and increased pathogen exposure created new selective pressures on the immune system. CityLife investigates the evolutionary consequences of urban living by tracing genetic adaptations associated with infectious disease resistance over nearly two millennia.

How can biological evidence be understood within its historical context? CityLife integrates archaeological records, excavation archives, inscriptions, and historical sources to reconstruct the complex interactions between biology, society, economy, religion, and culture that shaped the long-term development of the city.