ERC Synergy Grant for Mapping Past Ecological Change in Africa
MICADAS - accelerator mass spectrometry used for isotope analysis of sediment samples
How did humans and climate shape African ecosystems six thousand years ago? A project that has recently been awarded an ERC Grant aims to investigate this question, including isotope analyses by the Tandem Laboratory.
How did humans and climate shape African biodiversity before industrialisation? An interdisciplinary archaeological project led by researchers at the University of Oslo (UiO) aims to answer this question. Isotope analyses provided by the Tandem Laboratory are among the many analytical approaches included in the project. The project was recently awarded an ERC Synergy Grant of 12 million euros from the European Research Council.
–No one has undertaken research at this scale before, says David Wright, project leader and one of the principal investigators.
From 2026 to 2028, archaeological sediment samples will be collected from Malawi, Oman, Uganda, Senegal, and Cameroon. The samples will be analysed using organic geochemistry, fossil pollen, and sedimentary ancient DNA to study bio-organic formation processes that occurred alongside human influence on the landscape around.
– The prospect of this research is to revolutionise the way in which human-environmental research is done on a global scale. Furthermore, we will be able to more precisely attribute landscape changes with changes in human technology and land use, which will enhance our ability to predict scales of future change by orders of magnitude, adds David.
Archaeological Isotope Analysis at the Tandem Laboratory
The Tandem radiocarbon Laboratory will analyse the sediment samples to produce data on sample age and biomarkers, helping to reconstruct past vegetation and landscapes. Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) will be used to reveal different biomarkers that are characteristic of specific organisms and processes.
– The fact that the tandem laboratory is part of this unique project can be seen as excellence marker for our research capabilities within isotope-analysis, says Daniel Primetzhofer, director of the tandem laboratory.