This PhD studentship will contribute a better understanding of the diet, and way-of-life of these Southeast European Yamnaya people. It will investigate whether a distinctive ‘pastoralist’ diet, assumed to be high in animal protein, can be identified, as well as other social questions regarding dietary patterns between sexes, weaning, the transition to adulthood and older generations.
To investigate, the dietary δ13C and δ15N isotope values shall be measured from prehistoric burials in the Department of Anthropology & Archaeology and School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol, focussing on human samples from 100 – 150 graves/burials from Yamnaya kurgans. We will apply established bulk measurement methodologies alongside higher-resolution techniques, such as sequential sampling and compound-specific stable isotope analyses, for selected individuals, so to obtain a more refined isotopic picture. δ18O isotope values can additionally be measured during a research stay at the University of Helsinki/Finland. These same individuals will also be thoroughly investigated in parallel for information regarding their genetics, bio-anthropology and for radiocarbon dating within the YMPACT project.
We seek to recruit a motivated and well-qualified PhD student in archaeological stable isotope analyses in a collaboration between the Universities of Bristol/UK and Helsinki/Finland. You will form part of a large research team, including archaeologists, geneticists, anthropologists, palaeoclimatologists and other environmental scientists, from various European countries.
Application deadline: 01.12.2020!
For more information on the PhD studentship and how to apply, please check out the job ad by the University of Bristol.