Using Cryptotephra to Revolutionize Archaeological Dating and Discoveries
Join us for an engaging talk by PhD Candidate for the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Jayde Hirniak, on the role of volcanic ash (tephra) in advancing archaeological and paleontological research through tephrochronology. She will highlight recent breakthroughs in detecting cryptotephra—non-visible ash layers that can be traced over thousands of kilometers—and their impact on understanding human evolution. Key discoveries, including the identification of the 74 ka Youngest Toba Tuff in South Africa and Ethiopia, enable high-resolution correlations across regions previously thought unconnected. This upcoming lecture will demonstrate how these innovations are reshaping our ability to address major questions about early human behavior across vast geographic areas
Jayde Hirniak is a PhD candidate in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, focusing on the impact of volcanic eruptions on past populations in South Africa and using tephrochronology to improve chronological records at archaeological sites. Her expertise includes field archaeology, with experience in NW Italy and South Africa, and she co-manages the STEP Lab, specializing in cryptotephra extraction. Her research interests also include site formation, post-depositional processes, and method development.
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