Description du sujet de thèse

(i) Project Context
This PhD thesis is part of the ANR-funded research project ROMRIVERS. ROMRIVERS brings together an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, geomorphologists, historians, and hydraulic modeling engineers to address a range of questions concerning the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and use of ancient river infrastructure between the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE.

Many Roman structures altered the morphology of rivers, particularly through channelling and canalization. This project aims to assess to what extent these infrastructures were designed for long-term sustainability and their capacity to adapt to socio-environmental changes that occurred in antiquity. Through an interdisciplinary study of urban channels and canals in the western Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast, we aim to:
(i) evaluate how the design and construction of these river structures ensured their durability, considering sizing criteria, repair, and restructuring practices; and
(ii) reconstruct the adaptation of this infrastructure to socio-environmental changes (climate and hydro-sedimentary changes, socio-cultural transformations, natural and anthropogenic events).

Project webpage: https://live.unistra.fr/recherches/dynamique-des-paysages-geoarcheologie-quaternaire/projets/projets-phares/projet-romrivers

(ii) Objectives of the Study
This study will focus on two canal systems located in the Rhône and Po river deltas, which were part of the large port systems of Arles/Fos-sur-Mer (France) and Ravenna (Italy). The objective is to identify and characterize these two Roman canal systems, associated respectively with the Fossae Marianae in the Rhône delta and the Fossa Augusta in the Po delta. Specifically, the study will:
(i) assess the hydrodynamics and navigability of these canals,
(ii) study them within their hydro-sedimentary context, in relation to the upstream rivers and downstream port cities, and
(iii) analyze the consequences of their excavation on the lagoonal environments they traversed, using sedimentological and biological indicators.

(iii) Activities
- Processing spatial data (historical maps, satellite images, etc.) to identify coring locations;
- Planning and conducting field coring campaigns in the Rhône and Po deltas;
- Analyzing cores using sedimentological and paleoenvironmental techniques (magnetic susceptibility, pOSL, grain size analysis, particle morphology and geochemistry, ostracods/malacofauna);
- Coordinating complementary paleoenvironmental analyses (dating, palynological analyses, and other bioindicators);
- Collaborating closely with other members of the research group (archaeologists, historians, hydrologists), including another PhD student working on river modeling at ENGEES in Strasbourg (focused on the Rhône delta);
- Presenting findings at national and international seminars and conferences;
- Writing reports and articles (three peer-reviewed articles will form the basis of the dissertation).

(iv) Required Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate should demonstrate as many of the following qualifications as possible:
- Master's degree in Geography, Geology, or Ecology;
- Experience with coring techniques (manual auger, percussion coring);
- Expenrience with GIS tools (Geographic Information Systems) for mapping;
- Knowledge of sedimentological and paleoenvironmental analysis techniques in fluvial-marine interface environments;
- Knowing archaeological methods and issues;
- Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate with national and international partners;
- A good knowledge (minimum B2 level) of French, Italian, and English;
- A valid driver's license (B) is a strong asset due to the significant amount of fieldwork involved.

(v) Doctoral School
The candidate will be enrolled in Doctoral School 413: Earth and Environmental Sciences (Strasbourg).

(vi) Supervision Team
- Dr. Damien Ertlen – Associate Professor (MCF HDR) at the University of Strasbourg – LIVE UMR-7362 (Geoarchaeology);
- Dr. Ferréol Salomon – CNRS Researcher, Strasbourg – LIVE UMR-7362 (Geoarchaeology);
- Prof. Corinne Rousse – Professor at Aix-Marseille University – CCJ UMR-7299 (Archaeology).

Contexte de travail

The candidate will be based at the LIVE Laboratory (UMR-7362 UNISTRA-CNRS-ENGEES), located in the Faculty of Geography and Planning, 3 Rue de l'Argonne, Strasbourg. LIVE conducts multidisciplinary research on urban and human-impacted environments and hydrosystems, with a focus on understanding the impact of human activity on socio-ecosystems (team includes geographers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, climatologists, botanists).

The site is ideally situated in the heart of the Strasbourg metropolitan area in a pleasant student district, near various small eateries (including subsidized dining options) and urban parks (Orangerie, botanical garden, Vauban park).
- Subsidized meals available nearby;
- 75% reimbursement of public transport costs;
- Social benefits;
- Possibility of remote work, following institutional protocols;
- Paid leave + RTT: up to 46 days per year to be taken during the contract period.

Contraintes et risques

As the candidate will be based in Strasbourg, they will be required to carry out multiple fieldwork missions near Ravenna (Italy) and Arles (France), and must comply with safety protocols for handling coring equipment.