Taphos 2014 represents the 7th International Meeting on Taphonomy and continues the tradition of taphonomic meetings that have been regularly held in Spain since 1990 and then in Tubingen (2011). This is the first time that the Taphos meeting is held in Italy, and so I have great pleasure in inviting you, on behalf of the University of Ferrara and the City of Ferrara, to Italy in 2014. We are very excited about the Taphos 2014 and hope you will enjoy the wide array of topical sessions, the field trips, and social activities that we are planning for this meeting. Re-energise and refresh while sampling the best of Ferrara meals and Italian wines in the centre of the European Renaissance. We encourage you to experience the splendid range of cuisine, cultural experiences, palaentology and scenery that the city and region have to offer during your visit.