Professor Matthew Collins is the guest speaker for the seventh edition of the CENIEH Distinguished Annual Lecture, which commemorates the anniversary of the CENIEH building—celebrating sixteen years since its inauguration.

In this lecture, the renowned bioarchaeologist Matthew Collins presents an overview of the evolution of paleoproteomics, from the earliest studies on collagen preservation in dinosaur fossils—which challenged long-standing assumptions about biomolecular survival—to today’s data-driven analytical approaches. The presentation highlights key methodological advances in the field, including the distinction between endogenous ancient proteins and modern contaminants, the analysis of degradation patterns specific to archaeological contexts, and the extension of protein-based research beyond the temporal limits of ancient DNA. The lecture concludes by underscoring the interdisciplinary potential of paleoproteomics to enrich our understanding of past biological and cultural systems.

The event will be streamed live on the CENIEH YouTube Channel, with Spanish subtitles.

Admission is free but by invitation only.

Matthew Collins is Professor of Biomolecular Archaeology at the Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), and Deputy Head of the School of Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen, as well as Professor of Palaeoproteomics at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge.