Talks of the Past open seminar by CHP: 6000 years of ancient foodways in NE Baltics: biomolecular methods and social implications
- Date
- 5 February 2025, 15:15–16:30
- Location
- Blåsenhus, Blåsenhus/seminar room 13:028
- Type
- Seminar
- Lecturer
- Ester Oras
- Web page
- https://www.centerforthehumanpast.se
- Organiser
- Center for the Human Past (CHP)
- Contact person
- Marzena Norling
- Phone
- 0184710000
Talks of the Past (ToP) seminars are open to anyone interested in interdisciplinary research in the fields of palaeogenetics, archaeology, and linguistics. It is a series of seminars that take place on the first Wednesday of each month and are followed by a discussion and a “fika” (coffee break). The seminars are delivered in English.
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Abstract
Biomolecular archaeology has taken a leading role in ancient dietary reconstructions. The molecular- and isotopic-level information gained from ancient skeletal remains and pottery can reveal a more cohesive but also nuanced picture of past foodways, thanks to its higher-resolution analytical capacities in terms of both obtained information and context-specific interpretations.
This talk will exemplify the benefits and possibilities of multi-proxy and -analyte biomolecular approaches, particularly put into use for creating long-term overviews of major dietary changes. Ester Oras will use case studies from Estonia and build on the results of recently finished research project creating a 6000-years of regional foodways in NE Baltics. Whilst doing so she will explain the main principles and analytical approaches of biomolecular dietary analysis from different archaeological materials, but also reflect on the importance of thorough archaeological and socio-cultural contextualisation when it comes to interpreting biomolecular results.