2026 Francesco Berna: Social Sciences and Humanities Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Social Sciences and Humanities	35	6700	6228	402	386	71	6127
Earth Science	36	7092	6564	363	330	75	6701

Overview

Francesco Berna is affiliated with Simon Fraser University in Canada and focuses research efforts primarily on Earth and Planetary Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences. Their work extensively spans archeology, anthropology, and paleontology, with particular emphasis on the study of Pleistocene-era hominins and archaeology.

Their research encompasses several core topics including:

Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
Paleopathology and ancient diseases
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Archaeological and Geological Studies
Building materials and conservation

Frequent co-authors in Berna's work include Liora Kolska Horwitz, Elisabetta Boaretto, Omry Barzilai, Ofer Marder, and Michael B. Toffolo.

Publication venues where Berna has contributed regularly include:

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Journal of Human Evolution
Radiocarbon
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology

Notable recent publications include:

"Site formation processes at Manot Cave, Israel: Interplay between strata accumulation in the occupation area and the talus," 2020, Journal of Human Evolution
"Archeology, Environment, and Chronology of the Early Middle Stone Age Component of Wonderwerk Cave," 2020, Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology
"Bone diagenesis in archaeological and contemporary human remains: an investigation of bone 3D microstructure and minero-chemical assessment," 2020, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
"Structural Characterization and Thermal Decomposition of Lime Binders Allow Accurate Radiocarbon Age Determinations of Aerial Lime Plaster," 2020, Radiocarbon
"Diagenesis of juvenile skeletal remains: A multimodal and multiscale approach to examine the post-mortem decay of children's bones," 2021, Journal of Archaeological Science

Best Publications

Microstratigraphic evidence of in situ fire in the Acheulean strata of Wonderwerk Cave, Northern Cape province, South Africa

Francesco Berna;Paul Goldberg;Liora Kolska Horwitz;James Brink

809
Citations
Solubilities of bone mineral from archaeological sites: the recrystallization window

Francesco Berna;Alan Matthews;Stephen Weiner

381
Citations
Sediments exposed to high temperatures: reconstructing pyrotechnological processes in Late Bronze and Iron Age Strata at Tel Dor (Israel)

Francesco Berna;Adi Behar;Ruth Shahack-Gross;John Berg

372
Citations
Bedding, hearths, and site maintenance in the Middle Stone Age of Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Paul Goldberg;Paul Goldberg;Christopher E. Miller;Solveig Schiegl;Bertrand Ligouis

356
Citations
Earliest human occupations at Dmanisi (Georgian Caucasus) dated to 1.85-1.78 Ma.

Reid Ferring;Oriol Oms;Jordi Agustí;Francesco Berna

352
Citations
Middle Stone Age Bedding Construction and Settlement Patterns at Sibudu, South Africa

Lyn Wadley;Christine Sievers;Marion K Bamford;Paul Goldberg;Paul Goldberg

322
Citations
Bat guano and preservation of archaeological remains in cave sites

Ruth Shahack-Gross;Francesco Berna;Panagiotis Karkanas;Steve Weiner

299
Citations
Levantine cranium from Manot Cave (Israel) foreshadows the first European modern humans

Israel Hershkovitz;Israel Hershkovitz;Ofer Marder;Avner Ayalon;Miryam Bar-Matthews

274
Citations
Early levallois technology and the lower to middle paleolithic transition in the southern caucasus

D. S. Adler;K. N. Wilkinson;S. Blockley;D. F. Mark

250
Citations
Evidence for the repeated use of a central hearth at Middle Pleistocene (300 ky ago) Qesem Cave, Israel

R. Shahack-Gross;F. Berna;P. Karkanas;C. Lemorini

243
Citations
Micromorphology and context

Paul Goldberg;Paul Goldberg;Francesco Berna

215
Citations
Stone tools and foraging in northern Madagascar challenge Holocene extinction models

Robert E. Dewar;Chantal Radimilahy;Henry T. Wright;Henry T. Wright;Zenobia Jacobs

209
Citations
New evidence on Neandertal use of fire: Examples from Roc de Marsal and Pech de l’Azé IV

Paul Goldberg;Harold L Dibble;Francesco Berna;Dennis Sandgathe

150
Citations
Dumping, sweeping and trampling: experimental micromorphological analysis of anthropogenically modified combustion features

Christopher E Miller;Nicholas J Conard;Paul Goldberg;Francesco Berna

148
Citations
On the evidence for human use and control of fire at Schöningen

Mareike Cordula Stahlschmidt;Christopher E. Miller;Bertrand Ligouis;Ulrich Hambach

135
Citations
Geoarchaeological investigations at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Western Cape, South Africa

Christopher E. Miller;Paul Goldberg;Paul Goldberg;Francesco Berna;Francesco Berna

134
Citations
Evidence for Neandertal use of fire at Roc de Marsal (France)

Vera Aldeias;Paul Goldberg;Dennis M Sandgathe;Dennis M Sandgathe;Francesco Berna

125
Citations
A Preliminary Report on Pech de l’Azé IV, Layer 8 (Middle Paleolithic, France)

Harold L. Dibble;Francesco Berna;Paul Goldberg;Shannon P. McPherron

113
Citations
Comment on "DNA from pre-clovis human coprolites in Oregon, North America"

Paul Goldberg;Paul Goldberg;Francesco Berna;Francesco Berna;Richard I. M Macphail;Richard I. M Macphail

109
Citations
Assessing Paleolithic pyrotechnology and associated hominin behavior in Israel

Francesco Berna;Paul Goldberg

105
Citations
Researching the Nature of Fire at 1.5 Mya on the Site of FxJj20 AB, Koobi Fora, Kenya, Using High-Resolution Spatial Analysis and FTIR Spectrometry

Sarah Hlubik;Francesco Berna;Craig Feibel;David Braun

80
Citations