Research topics

Dre Claudine Abegg is working as part of Prof. Marie Besse's SNSF project. Marie Besse (grant no.: 216492) on the palaeopathological study of Neolithic populations around Mont Blanc. The aim is to understand, through a cooperative approach involving various areas of research, who these individuals are and how human societies functioned in the Neolithic period in this region.

She is also working with the Musée Cantonal d'Archéologie et d'Histoire de Lausanne (MCAH) on the management of human osteological collections. She is looking into existing best practice for managing these collections, based on a triptych of logistical, scientific, ethical and legal aspects. Human skeletons cannot be considered as artefacts like any others, and represent finite resources. The management of these collections must be seen as a research area in its own right, and one that must be pursued over the long term. She's also working on these issues.

Thesis topic - defended in 2019

Subject : State of health of the neolithic populations of western Switzerland : new paleoepidemiological data.

Directors : Prof. M. Besse, Dre J. Desideri, Prof. O. Dutour (Université de Bordeaux)

Her thesis project consisted of observing and recording all observable pathologies within the Neolithic and Bell Beaker anthropological corpora of Western Switzerland in order to establish the health profile of these populations.

Formation

2015 - 2019 : Doctorat es Sciences, majoring in Prehistoric Archaeology. University of Geneva, Switzerland.

2012 - 2013: Master of Sciences in Anthropology and Forensic Archaeology. Cranfield University, United Kingdom. Master's subject : St-Theodore's convent, Nicosia, Cyprus - osteological analysis of a medieval skeletal collection Supervisors Dr. A. Williams and Dr. P. Kyriakou.

2009 - 2012 : Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Anthropology. Durham University, United Kingdom. Bachelor's subject: Cranial trauma in medieval England - an analysis of gender differences. Supervisor Dr. B. Jacob.

Teaching

MSc in Human Taphonomy, University of Lausanne, 2025-ongoing. Introduction to archaeology, forensic archaeology, human bone collection management, introduction to paleopathology. Courses given yearly, Master’s level.

Lecture in forensic anthropology, July 2021, Ecole Doctorale, UniGe, Doctorat en Sciences Biomédicales. Maternity leave replacement (PhD level).

Practical in forensic anthropology, July 2021, Ecole Doctorale, UniGe, Doctorat en Sciences Biomédicales. Maternity leave replacement (PhD level).

Invited lecture, 2021, Tubingen University. Invited to give a talk titled “More than the sum of their parts: making paleopathological sense of individual and commingled burials of Neolithic Western Switzerland”.

Lecture in paléoanthropologie II, 2014-2018, University of Geneva (Master level).

Practical in Prehistoric Archaeology, 2015-2018. Introduction to paleopathology. University of Geneva (Bachelor level).

Outreach

Women in Science, 2025. Project coordinated by CERN, demonstration of science careers by women in primary schools.

Death as seen by an anthropologist, 2024. Presentation to a private organisation (Randocontes) to discuss the role of forensic anthropology in modern society.

Université Populaire de la Vallée de Joux, 2024-2025. Introduction to archaeology, archaeology in the canton of Vaud, and forensic anthropology.

Activities for the City, 2015-2018. Presentation of the work of an anthropologist to primary and secondary school pupils in Geneva.

Open Doors UNIGE, 2015–2025. Presentation of archaeology and anthropology. “Career Day”.