Projektleitung
PD Dr. rer. biol. hum. Sandra Lösch, Anthropologie, Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Bern
Projektbeteiligte
Dr. Marco Milella, Anthropologie, Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Bern
Dr. Noah Steuri, Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Bern
Prof. Dr. Johannes Krause, Max-Planck-Institut für evolutionäre Anthropologie, DE
Dr. Anja Furtwängler, Max-Planck-Institut für evolutionäre Anthropologie, DE
Prof. Dr. Albert Hafner, Institut für archäologische Wissenschaften, Universität Bern
Prof. Dr. Sönke Szidat, Department für Chemie, Biochemie und Pharmazie, Universität Bern
Projektdaten
Förderinstitution: Swiss National Science Foundation (Projekt-Nr. 212378)
Förderungsdauer: 01.06.2023 – 31.09.2027
Förderbeitrag: 612'873.- CHF
Abstract
Within the BoNe project, we would like to investigate unique, 7000-5000 year old Chamblandes cist burials from Switzerland and adjacent regions within the framework of bioarchaeological studies. In this way, we want to gain insights into the burial customs, genetic structure, and way of life of these Neolithic early farming populations. The scientists involved were already the core team of the "Multidisciplinary research approach to the Swiss Oberbipp dolmen in the context of the Neolithic revolution in Central Europe" project, for which we received SNSF support from 2015 to 2019 and which has several publications to its credit (see 2.2 State of our research). Within the scope of the BoNe project, we will combine further evolved cutting-edge applications in stable isotope research, medical imaging techniques or genome-wide next-generation DNA sequencing with archaeological studies of chronological earlier burials. Our focus lies on the changes in burial customs, in particular, the evolution from single to multiple burials, later on even megalithic burials, and its relation to the social structure of the Neolithic communities. Regarded from a larger framework, prehistoric humans showed a large population turnover in Central Europe after the introduction of farming at the beginning of the Neolithic period around 5500 BCE. Indigenous European hunter-gatherers genetically admixed with incoming farmers from the Near East. Later, towards the end of the Neolithic Period, a second wave of migrants arrived from Northeastern Europe, resulting in a triplicate ancestry of almost all humans in nowadays Europe. The Alps in particular, including Switzerland, played a key role for those population admixture events, serving as a natural border with corridors for migrating populations. Neolithic human remains from archaeological sites of these regions are therefore of great importance to understand the processes that lead to the current population of Europe.
Stable isotope ratios from bone and teeth will shed light on the living conditions of the Neolithic communities, e.g. social structure, nutrition and mobility. We will generate paleogenetic data to determine kinship among the individuals as well as genetic relationship to other ancient and modern European populations. In addition, we are searching for genetic pathogens, both to synchronise with our osteological studies and in relation to an epidemiological and evolutionary framework. Paleogenetic data will also allow us to reconstruct phenotypic traits such as the ability to digest milk or starch, as well as eye, skin and hair pigmentation of those early farmers. By means of the osteological analyses, we will obtain information about immediate living and health conditions. The archaeological context will weave our burial communities into a geographical and chronological framework.
We will assess our results in the context of further published (bio)archaeological data in order to understand the inter- and intra-cultural and biological relationships of Neolithic populations and its influences on modern Europeans. The reconstruction of life history, phenotype and ancestry of the individuals will furthermore generate public outreach and allow nowadays people to relate to their Neolithic ancestors.
