Research Question

Research Question

The use of fish bone collagen to determine marine resource exploitation of the Mesolithic and Neolithic of northern Europe.

Project background

Since 1981 isotopic dietary studies have been widely conducted on human remains dating to the Mesolithic and Neolithic of northern Europe (Richards et al. 2003; Tauber 1981). Some authors have argued that the Mesolithic diet was characterized by a dominance of marine foods and that the Neolithic peoples across Europe turned their back on the sea (Schulting and Richards 2001). However this assumption has not always been borne out of the archaeological evidence (Milner et al. 2004). In northern Europe the notion that fish constituted a large proportion of the Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples’ diet is supported by the vast quantities of fish bones recovered from archaeological sites but minimal work has been carried out in order to review the reconstructed human palaeodiet. Research using biochemical methods and/or Bayesian statistics are routinely used in ecological studies to determine mixed trophy (e.g., Phillips and Gregg 2003) and would be usefully applied to determine the proportion of aquatic protein in the diet. The only fish bone that has received detailed study is that found in the Danish Mesolithic and Neolithic (Fischer et al. 2007). This study highlighted a strong reliance on aquatic protein, although left unanswered questions about how overexploitation and/or subtle environmental variables, such as fluctuations in salinity, affected diet throughout this period of climatic change.

Despite the widespread isotopic analysis of human remains relatively few similar studies have been undertaken on archaeological fish bone collagen to determine the balance between freshwater, brackish (estuarine) and marine resource exploitation strategies, overexploitation and the effects of environmental variables on individual fish species. A recent isotopic study of the European eel (Robson et al. in press), revealed new and important insights into the life history of the species and its exploitation, which may have implications in interpreting human bone collagen stable isotope values due notably to the “marine” isotopic signature.

This proposed research would enable wider understanding of stable isotopic studies and aid interpretation of change and continuity across the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition as well as contribute to knowledge of overexploitation and/or environmental variables.

Main research aim

Can bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements of eel bone collagen from Mesolithic and Neolithic sites in northern Europe determine past exploitation patterns?

Research questions to be considered include

How do fish bone assemblages vary isotopically throughout the Mesolithic and Neolithic in northern Europe and the Baltic?

How do isotopic signatures of human remains and other fauna vary throughout the Mesolithic and Neolithic in northern Europe and the Baltic?

What is the precise relationship between isotopic signals of archaeological fish, fauna and humans?

Can isotopic analysis of fish bone from inland and coastal sites determine how these species were exploited, notably in distinguishing between fish from freshwater, brackish (estuarine) and marine ecotones?

Can isotopic analysis of fish bone from a wide geographical area and different cultural epochs identify subtle environmental variables (e.g., a change in the salinity) across this climatic transition and the onset of the Littorina Transgression?

Can isotopic analysis of fish bone from late Mesolithic (Ertebølle) and early Neolithic (Funnel Beaker) contexts at a given site provide an insight into a change in the fishing practices across the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, notably in determining overexploitation?

Can biochemical methods distinguish between different species from one family level?

Data/source material to be used

I have established contact and have permission to use material from 16 coastal and inland archaeological sites, modern fish and museum collections in Denmark, Germany, Poland and Sweden.

I will study the fish bones and analyze the species present, skeletal element, age, minimum number of individuals and total length and test the seasonality methodologies of specific species. A comprehensive catalogue of the fish bone material prior to and post isotopic analysis will be created.

Brief methodology

To develop a database to collate the isotopic and archaeological fish bone data available in the published literature.

To undertake carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopic analysis, following the standard extraction procedures (Brown et al. 1988; Richards and Hedges 1999), of modern and archaeological fish bone collagen to discriminate between freshwater, brackish (estuarine) and marine consumers in northern Europe and the Baltic.

To determine the proportion of aquatic protein in the diets of dogs and humans via Bayesian statistics and MIXSIR and ascertain any evidence of overexploitation and/or environmental variables associated with the isotopic signatures of fish species throughout the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition.

To undertake ZooMS analysis (Richter et al. 2011) of ambiguous archaeological samples to identify fish species and allow identification of fragmentary remains for subsequent isotope analysis.

Resources available at York for carrying out your research

The facilities available at York are at the forefront of current research and the BioArch laboratories (in particular the ZooMS capabilities) and excellent fish bone reference collections will be of fundamental use to my project.  I have worked with Professors Bailey and Collins and Doctors Craig, Harland, Laurie and Milner whilst a Research Assistant on the Star Carr project and throughout my Masters study.

Impact or knowledge transfer potential of your topic

Results from this study are guaranteed as there is a large corpus of isotopic data and fish bone to work on in Europe and the collation of this evidence which has never before been synthesized would produce results of international significance. The main knowledge transfer outcome of my research will be a digital resource of the isotopic data of Mesolithic and Neolithic humans, other consumers and fish and an online digital facility for Mesolithic and Neolithic fish species incorporating reference collections and archaeological assemblages which will be easily accessible for a wider audience, of particular use as the number of archaeological fish specialists worldwide is in decline. Furthermore the isotopic data of modern and archaeological fish bone collagen will be useful for fisheries research, permitting the comparison between the impacts of overexploitation and environmental variables in the Mesolithic to that of overfishing today.

Education

Education

PhD, University of York (2011 - present)

MA Mesolithic Studies, University of York (2010 - 2011)

BSc (Hons) Archaeology, University of Bradford (2006 - 2010)

Diploma of Professional Archaeological Studies, University of Bradford in collaboration with the University of York (2008 - 2009)

Publication record

Publication record

Peer reviewed articles

Fieldwork experience

Fieldwork Experience

August 2011 (2 weeks) Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic (Ertebølle/Funnel Beaker) “køkkenmødding” (kitchen midden), Havnø, Denmark (Director: Professor S. H. Andersen)

July 2011 (2 weeks) Middle Mesolithic/Late Mesolithic (Kongemose/Ertebølle) inland lakeside settlement, Satrupholmer Moor, Germany (Directors: Dr S. Hartz, Dr H. Lübke, Dr U. Schmölcke and Dr T. Terberger)

August 2010 (2 weeks) Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic (Ertebølle/Funnel Beaker) “køkkenmødding” (kitchen midden), Havnø, Denmark (Director: Professor S.H. Andersen)

July 2010 (2 weeks) Middle Mesolithic/Late Mesolithic (Kongemose/Ertebølle) inland lakeside settlement, Satrupholmer Moor, Germany (Directors: Dr S. Hartz, Dr H. Lübke, Dr U. Schmölcke and Dr T. Terberger)

August 2009 (2 weeks) Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic (Ertebølle/Funnel Beaker) “køkkenmødding” (kitchen midden), Havnø, Denmark (Director: Professor S.H. Andersen)

July 2009 (1 month) Hellenistic Necropolis, Nokalakevi, Georgia (Directors: Professor D. Lomatishvilli, Ian Colvin, Dr P. Everill and Ben Neal)

March 2009 (1 month) Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Director: Professor G. Bailey)

August 2008 (1 month) Early Mesolithic (Maglemose) inland lakeside settlement, Star Carr, Yorkshire (Directors: Dr N. Milner, Dr C. Conneller and Barry Taylor)

July 2008 (1 month) Hellenistic necropolis, Nokalakevi, Georgia (Directors: Professor D. Lomatishvilli, Ian Colvin, Dr P. Everill and Ben Neal)

August 2007 (1 month) Hellenistic necropolis, Nokalakevi, Georgia (Directors: Professor D. Lomatishvilli, Ian Colvin, Dr P. Everill and Ben Neal)

May 2007 (1 week) Mesolithic landscape and palaeoglacial lake, Hoppen Hall, Northumberland (Directors: Dr K. Pedersen, Dr A. Evans)

August 2006 (1 week) Romano British Excavation, Arram, East Yorkshire (Directors: Members of the ERAS)

June 2003 (1 week) Romano British excavation, North Cave, East Yorkshire (Director: Jim Fraser)

Administration

Administration

Assistant Editor, Mesolithic Miscellany, University of York (2010 - present)

Student Staff Representative for the Third Year Archaeology Undergraduates, University of Bradford (2009 - 2010)

Research Assistant, Star Carr project, University of York (2008 - 2009)

Student Staff Representative for Second Year Archaeology Undergraduates, University of Bradford (2007 - 2008)

Assistant in the Hunter Gatherer Research Laboratory at the School of Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Bradford (2006 - 2007)

Collaborators