MMIP · Movement and Migration in Irish Prehistory

Movement and Migration in Irish Prehistory

Work carried out to achieve the project's objectives Below we list the research objectives, and the progress achieved towards each objective. Objective 1. Dr Kador conducted original isotope research on human and animal remains from neolithic Ireland and Early Bronze Age Crete, Greece. He conducted strontium isotope analysis of 50 human and 60 animal tooth samples at the University of Bristol and collaborated with Durham University on conducting oxygen isotope analyses on the same samples there. Objective 2. Dr Kador also contributed to the establishment of an archaeological isotope research network comprising key specialists in isotope analysis from Ireland and the UK. Within the context of this network he has collaborated on mapping the bio-available strontium variation across various regions of Ireland. In particular, in relation to the areas that he has investigated directly as part of this project Dr Kador collected and analysed vegetation samples from the relevant locations. Objective 3. To date Dr Kador has had two full length papers and one short piece based on his MSC research accepted for publication in international peer reviewed journals. He is currently preparing a further three and has jointly edited a book (with Dr Jim Leary, Rading University) on Mobility in the Neolithic, due to appear with Oxbow books later in 2015 (see below). Objective 4. To fund additional aspects of his research, beyond the scope of the MSC funding D Kador has successfully obtained six additional grants – most notably three for radiocarbon dating of the human remains from the Carrowkeel passage tomb complex in northwest Ireland – and he is currently working on a proposal for a major research grant consolidating his interests, skills and expertise in European prehistory and archaeological science. Training objectives Training Objective 1. Dr Kador has succeeded in acquiring expertise and first hand working knowledge of strontium, oxygen and carbon isotope analysis on of bioarchaeological samples to the extent that he has been training two Doctoral research students at the University of Bristol in strontium isotope analysis. Training objective 2. All the above mentioned grants (Research objective 4.) involved collaborative projects, as leader and coordinator (PI) on most of these as well as through his laboratory based teaching of PhD studnts Dr Kador has demonstrated his proficiency in leading teams in isotope based archaeological research. Teaching objective 3. As highlighted in research objective 3 & 4 above and section 2. below Dr Kador has acquired a proven proficiency in producing high level publications and grant applications relating to his research. Project summary Main results & conclusions The main contribution that the project made was to enhancing our understanding of human population dynamics and animal mobility during the middle neolithic period (c.3300-2900 cal BC) in Ireland through the following two programmes of analysis. 1. Analysis (for the first time) of the human remains from the (Neolithic) passage tomb complex at Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo which had been presumed missing for almost a century since they were excavated in 1911. The research on carrowkeel involved a full osteological assessment, 87Sr/86Sr, d18O, d13C (and some d15N) as well as AMS radiocarbon dating (funded through additional grants).of the human (and some animal) remains from Carrowkeel. 2. Isotopic analysis (87Sr/86Sr, 18O & 13C) of the cattle remains from the middle Neolithic ceremonial enclosure at Kilshane, Co. Dublin. Additionally Dr Kador also actively participated in the following two projects a) A collaborative (stand alone) project also saw Dr Kador conduct 87Sr/86Sr on 18 human remains from three Early Bronze Age burial sites in eastern Crete, Greece as part of a wider project also involving osteology and analysis of dental non metric traits. Contrary to traditional belief our analysis could find no evidence for Cycladic immigrants among the burial populations analysed. b) Exclusion Diets this interdisciplinary, collaborative project received seed funding from the Southwest Crucible – ran jointly between the Universities of Bristol, Bath and the University of the West of England.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union