Andrzej Weber

Environmental history of middle Holocene Siberia and hunter-gatherer culture change: A case study from the Baikal region

Department of Anthropology University of AlbertaEdmonton, 17 Jan., 2006

Baikal Archaeology Project

Location

Main support

SSHRC MCRI grants $2.3 million 2001-2006 $2.5 million 2006-2011

Additional support

University of Alberta Canadian Circumpolar Institute Irkutsk State University, Russia University of Calgary University of Aberdeen Research Council of Norway

Project structure: research modules

Archaeology Paleoenvironment Ethnoarchaeolgy Bioarchaeology Human genetics module

Participants

University of Alberta Anthropology Earth and Atmospheric

Sciences Laboratory Medicine and

Pathology Renewable Recourses

University of Calgary University of

Pennsylvania

Irkutsk State University Irkutsk State Technical

University University of Aberdeen University of

Cambridge University Coll. London

Project scope and rationale

Fieldwork location

KUR

K14

LOK

UID

SHA

BUR

BAS

Teeth: Sr87/Sr86

C13

O18

Bone: Sr87/Sr86 C13

N15

O18 C14

Vertebrae: DNA

Summary of research findings

Genetic discontinuity Health and demographic patterns Subsistence and dietary patterns Elements of social organization Mortuary variability Climatic change: periods of stability v.

instability

Current research objectives

Examination of the hunter-gatherer adaptation during the Middle Neolithic gap

Examination of the development and collapse of the hunter-gatherer increased social complexity

Role of the environment

Fieldwork opportunities

Little SeaBelaia R.

Tunka valley

Project needs and potential IPY support

Research dissemination Academic Outreach programs

International collaboration Research infrastructure in Russia

Relevance to IPY themes

Status Ethnoarchaeology Environment modules

Change Global linkages

Comparative approach international academic collaboration

New frontiers Research infrastructure in the Baikal region

Human dimensions

Thank you