Ester Oras

Ester Oras (born 11 September 1984) is an Estonian archaeochemist and professor of archaeochemistry at the University of Tartu. She is the founder and leader of the interdisciplinary research group Archemy, which applies biomolecular and analytical chemistry methods to archaeological questions, particularly related to ancient diet and health. In 2024, she received an ERC Starting Grant for the project FoodID on dietary identities in the past. She completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2014.

At the University of Tartu, she holds appointments spanning the Institute of Chemistry and the Department of Archaeology, and is listed by the university as Professor of Archaeochemistry (part-time) in both units.

She has also contributed biomolecular analyses to international archaeological research reported in Estonian media, including work connected to the identification of Europe's oldest known trace of blue pigment.

Oras is a representative on the editorial board of the Journal of Archaeological Science, as listed by the Society for Archaeological Sciences.

Awards and recognition ERC Starting Grant (2024): Awarded for the project Food identities: biomolecular archaeology reveals multiple and dynamic social identities (FoodID). Pro Futura Scientia Fellow (SCAS): Selected as a Pro Futura Scientia Fellow at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study.