We are in the wake of the tradition of the school of morphology of Rome started by Sergio Sergi since '30 of the last century. In 1934 Sergi wrote: "The position of the skull bones is the result of actions exerted on them during evolution and development. These actions are represented by different forces of intensity and direction, which lead to the final equilibrium of the bone elements". Sergi was a pioneer in putting a great attention to the study of the biological forms in terms of the processes, both evolutionary and developmental, acting on them. As states in the same years by D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson: “Morphology is not only a study of material things and of the forms of material things, but has its dynamical aspect, under which we deal with the interpretation, in terms of force, of the operations of Energy”. With this view in mind our current research focuses on the ecological, adaptive, functional and developmental processes that shaped morphological variation in human evolution and, in particular, during the Pleistocene time. To carry on out research we use cutting edge technologies such as geometric morphometrics and digital imaging.

Our Lab prompts consideration of biological and archaeological evidence in the reconstruction of ancient contexts. The Lab has the aim to promote a profound interdisciplinarity among osteology, paleopathology and archaeology, with the aim to embrace a long-term study of ancient populations and their health conditions. Contexts in study encompass wide time periods and different areas worldwide, with a main focus in recent Prehistory, the Roman Era and the Early Middle Ages. The Laboratory has collaborations with diagnostic centres (as Policlinic Umberto I, Sapienza) to investigate human finds through RX ot CT-scan.

Since 2004 the Laboratory is actively involved in light stable isotopes analysis. We carry out the measurement of stable carbon (δ¹³C ), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotopes and are undertaking projects on strontium isotopes ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) with the aim to reconstruct diet and mobility of past human groups (and related paleobotanical and paleofaunistic records). Contexts studied span in time and space, with a main focus in recent prehistory of Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The Laboratory is equipped for the preparation and treatment for the measurement of stable isotopes through Mass Spectrometry. Active collaborations include projects with other European Universities (LAMPEA-Universitè de Aix-Marseille, University of Cambridge, University of York) and North- and South-American Institutions (CONICET, Argentina, University of North Carolina, UCLA).

Since 2001 our Lab applies the most innovative techniques of Virtual Anthropology to study the morphology of human fossils. The 'in silico' study of ancient specimens allows us to diversify the techniques applied according to our research aim: from digital restoration to morphological and biomechanical analysis. Since 2015 our lab is focussed on method improvement and participates in the continuous innovation of Virtual Anthropology.