Prof. Dr. David Caramelli
At DNA DAY 2026, he will present a talk:
Clues from the Past: What Ancient DNA Tells Us
Lecture Annotation:
Ancient DNA (aDNA) research has transformed our understanding of the past by providing direct biological insights into historical individuals and populations. This contribution highlights this potential through two case studies: the genetic investigation of Leonardo da Vinci and the analysis of DNA extracted from the plaster casts of Pompeii victims.
The first case explores efforts to reconstruct Leonardo da Vinci’s genetic profile through genealogical and Y-chromosome studies, shedding light on his ancestry and biological legacy. The second examines victims of the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, where advanced sequencing techniques reveal new information about sex, origins, health, and possible relationships, challenging earlier interpretations.
Together, these examples demonstrate how aDNA can refine historical narratives and provide a deeper, more scientific understanding of the human past.
Photo credit: unifimagazine
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy
Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Stanislava Bönde Gogová, PhD.
MSc. Daniel Bešina, PhD.
At DNA DAY 2026, they will present a talk:
Archaeology of Execution Sites in an Interdisciplinary Context – from Field Research to Bioarchaeological Analyses
Lecture Annotation:
Execution sites represent a specific type of archaeological site that offers a unique perspective on the past of punishment and marginalized groups in society. The lecture will focus on interdisciplinary research of these sites at the interface of archaeology and physical anthropology, including bioarchaeological analyses. It will show why the context of the finds is important and what scientists can learn from bones. You will learn what information can be obtained about the origin, health and living conditions of these individuals, and together we will look into the stories of people who have often been forgotten in history.
Photo credit: Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra/academia
Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra
Assoc. MSc. Bronislava Brejová, PhD.
At DNA DAY 2026, she will present a talk:
Human DNA Analysis: A Window into Our Past
Lecture Annotation:
By comparing DNA from different organisms, we can determine how closely related they are and thus explore their evolutionary history. However, even if we only know the DNA of one person, we can infer something about the history of the population from which their ancestors came, because we can compare the DNA inherited from the mother and the father. In this lecture, we will show how this works.
Photo credit: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics Comenius University in Bratislava
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics Comenius University in Bratislava