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New insights into prehistoric human diet and agriculture

Posted on 21 February 2012

Forensic-style scientific techniques are revealing new insights into the lives of our ancestors thousands of years ago.

While identifying physical fragments of animal and plant remains has given some indications of how our eating and farming habits have evolved over the past 10,000 years, many questions remain. A public lecture at the University of York will explain how an analytical chemical approach is now opening a new window on the past, revealing new perspectives on our ancestors’ lives.

Application of this approach has allowed long-held archaeological theories to be challenged and new perspectives to be revealed

Professor Richard Evershed

As part of the York Biology Lectures series, Professor Richard Evershed from the University of Bristol, will explore the application of organic residue analysis to the study of ancient diet, farming and hunting in prehistory in a lecture on Thursday, 23 February.

Many of our current eating and drinking habits have their origins in the activities of our ancestors who lived thousands of years ago in the ‘Fertile Crescent’ of the Near East. These early farmers began to raise the animals and grow crops – such as cattle and wheat – that we now take for granted as part of our normal 21st century diets.

Professor Evershed said: “Determining how the production of these vital foods spread away from the original centre of domestication to other parts of the ancient world remains a major question in archaeology.” 

Professor Evershed, a Professor of Biogeochemistry, is an internationally renowned analytical organic chemist and a leading exponent of biomolecular archaeology who has revolutionised aspects of archaeological science.

The analytical chemical approach uses separation (chromatographic) and identification (mass spectrometric) techniques to reveal preserved biomolecules. Once identified, the structure(s) and isotopic composition(s) of a given biomolecule, or suite of biomolecules, are used as ‘chemical fingerprints’ to determine the ways animals and plants were exploited and consumed by humans in the past.  

Professor Evershed said: “Application of this approach has allowed long-held archaeological theories to be challenged and new perspectives to be revealed in relation to otherwise invisible, yet vitally important, dimensions of the lives of our ancestors.”    

Admission to the lecture, “New insights into prehistoric human diet and agriculture through ancient biomolecules and stable isotopes”, on Thursday, 23 February at 6.30pm in the Berrick Saul Building BS/005 is free. No booking is required.

Notes to editors:

Contact details

Caron Lett
Press Officer

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