Dr. IJk Van Hattum

I am a postdoctoral researcher funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). I hold a Master’s degree in Archaeological Science from Leiden University and a PhD in Archaeology from Ghent University. My doctoral research investigated commingled human remains from Neolithic cave sites in the Belgian Meuse basin, combining dental anthropology and isotope analyses to explore life ways and mobility patterns.

In my current project, PROXIMEUSE, I build upon this work by examining new sites and proxies—including sulphur isotopes and dental non-metric traits—to gain deeper insights into Neolithic communities in the region. My research integrates bioarchaeological and geochemical approaches to reconstruct past human behavior, mobility, and regional connectivity,