Dr. Cabanes’ research aims to understand the association between environment and human cognitive and cultural evolution. He investigates biological, social, and economic changes using microarchaeological remains in three critical periods in human history: the emergence of the genus Homo in Africa, the transition from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic in Europe, and the evolution of the urban centers in the Levant.

Dan is a phytolith and FTIR expert, with a formation background in archaeobotany and geoarcheology. He has completed research in sites from the Lower Paleolithic to the Iron Age, and he also has lead ground breaking research on phytolith preservation and collaborated in the development of a fast method of phytolith analyses.

Currently, he is studying the role of fire technology in the demise of Neanderthals and the arrival of Modern Humans into Europe. His research interests also include the deep roots of the Anthropocene and the impact of human activities in the fossil sedimentary record, which has implications beyond the field of Human Evolution, and can contribute to other exciting topics such as the current climatic change and its effects on migrations and health.