Claudia Zancan
Main Focus
I am an archaeologist specialising in the protohistory of the Japanese archipelago. My area of interest sits at the intersection of Archaeology of Death, Cognitive Archaeology, and Prehistoric Art Archaeology, with a focus on the decorated tombs of the Late and Final Kofun period (6th–7th centuries CE) on the island of Kyushu. My research investigates the active role of images within funerary contexts, exploring how iconographic programmes shaped mortuary practices, the perception of burial spaces, and sociocultural dynamics in ancient Japan.
Research Projects
- Let's do it ALL: Agriculture, Land and Language in Kofun Japan
- The Anthropocene Engine at Sea: Archaeolinguistic Perspectives on the Blue Acceleration
- Girl power in Ancient East Asia: language, archaeology and genes
Curriculum Vitae
I was educated in Japanese language and culture in Italy, and in archaeology in The Netherlands. Between 2023 and 2024 I conducted archaeological fieldwork in Kyushu, carrying out first-hand investigations inside decorated tombs in collaboration with local cultural heritage authorities and major Japanese museums. I am Scientific Director of the IRIAE archaeological project Sōshoku Kofun Tale, officially recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). I am currently a PhD Candidate at the Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice.