Project management
Dr. Sandra Lösch, Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern
project participants
Dr. Sandra Lösch, Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Felix Müller, Bernisches Historisches Museum, Bern
Prof. Dr. Albert Hafner, Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Bern
Dipl. biol. Negahnaz Moghaddam, Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern
Project data
Funding institution: Swiss National Science Foundation (Projekt-Nr. CR13I3_149583)
Funding period: 01.01.2014 – 31.12.2016
Subsidy: CHF 348'460.-
Abstract
Stable isotope data from human and animal bone are used to reconstruct different parameters of living conditions. Modern anthropological methods give us reliable information about appearance, health, diet, social status, and origin of these humans. The samples come from different Celtic cemeteries and ritual sites throughout Switzerland. Collagen and structural carbonate fractions will be extracted from the excavated bones. Stable isotopes from the light elements carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, hydrogen and oxygen will be measured via mass-spectrometer.
To examine the diet, archaeological remains from different climatic regions are used to get a first overview of regional and temporal differences in Switzerland. The main interest lies on general dietary habits and possible differences between sexes, social strata or age groups. The geographic variability between Midlands, Alpine Inner Regions and Alpine Southern Slope will also be investigated.
