SubsidieMeestersAncient genomics and the population history of the Circum-Alpine region
This project aims to analyze ancient DNA from chewing gums found at Alpine pile dwelling sites to uncover insights into the lives, health, and culture of prehistoric communities from 5000 to 500 BC.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The prehistoric pile dwellings in and around the Alps constitute one of the most important archaeological archives of human prehistory. Dating from around 5000 to 500 BC, there are over 1000 known sites in the region, 111 of which are listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Preservation Conditions
The sites are mainly located under water, on lake shores, along rivers, or in wetlands, offering exceptional conditions for the preservation of organic materials like wood, plant remains, animal bones, artefacts, and even textiles. Because of their exceptional preservation, the archaeological remains from those sites give us a unique window into the lives of prehistoric people and the development of early agrarian societies in Central Europe.
Knowledge Gaps
However, despite the rich material evidence from the settlements, we know relatively little about the people who lived there. This is because there are no burials directly associated with the lake settlements, which has precluded the study of ancient DNA, for example.
Alternative Sources of Ancient DNA
Luckily, there are other sources of ancient DNA, including ancient “chewing gums” which provide a rich source of ancient human and host-associated microbial DNA, as we recently demonstrated.
Project Objectives
In this project, we will:
- Sequence ancient DNA and other biomolecules from ancient “chewing gums” found at lake settlements in and around the Alps.
- Shed new light on the lives of the Alpine communities that settled there between 5000 and 500 BC.
- Utilize over 300 specimens from archaeological sites north and south of the Alps to study their interactions and the demographic and cultural changes that characterised the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age in Central Europe.
Expected Insights
In addition, the project promises to offer new insights into:
- Peoples’ health
- The composition of their oral microbiome
- Their diet and subsistence strategies
Together, the proposed research will provide us with a richer understanding of the pile-dwelling communities of Central Europe.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 1.999.958 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 1.999.958 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-9-2022 |
| Einddatum | 31-8-2027 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2022 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITETpenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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This project aims to enhance archaeogenetic research by using microstratigraphic frameworks to analyze ancient DNA from sediments and speleothems, reconstructing human interactions in Upper Paleolithic Georgia.
Roaming Ancestry – Landscapes of social and genetic relations in prehistory
This project aims to reconstruct kinship and social networks in prehistoric Europe by integrating archaeogenetic data with archaeological context to map relationships and interactions across regions.
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The UNEARTH project aims to extract and analyze ancient human DNA from archaeological sediments to trace social organization and inheritance patterns in a multi-phase Early Bronze Age settlement.
Exploring Mammoth Bone Accumulations In Central Europe
This project aims to investigate the formation and function of mammoth bone accumulations in the West Carpathian forelands, revealing interactions between humans and mammoths during significant environmental changes.
Tracing Indigenous American genomic history, subsistence strategies, health and their interplay through time using DNA from ancient masticated plant fibres
This project aims to utilize ancient quids to reconstruct the genomic history and dietary shifts of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, circumventing the limitations of skeletal sampling.