OCCUPOMICS: Estimation of archaeological site occupation time spans using genomic admixture and radiocarbon dating

Objetivo temático: This project could lead to a decreased need of radiocarbon dates when site-wise genomic data is available, provide improved precision in dating sites, as well as saving unique osteological material and reducing costs

Área Científica: Archaeology, archaeometry, landscape archaeology, Bioinformatics, biocomputing, and DNA and molecular computation, ancient DNA, radiocarbon dating, bioinformatics, paleogenomics, C14, admixture timing

Síntese do Projeto: Archaeological site occupation time span estimates can take the form of quantitative and qualitative intervals. The former can use methods such as radiocarbon dating to obtain temporal calendar intervals that, in some cases, can be fairly precise. For the latter, broader temporal qualitative intervals can be inferred from the characterization of collected materials and artefacts, the identification of specific physical structures, or the type of burial practices. With the increasing incorporation of genomic analysis in archaeological studies where human remains are present, specifically to study population origins, admixture, and social organisation, radiocarbon dates are frequently obtained from the osteological materials being analysed. This allows for a better integration of the genomic, archaeological, and anthropological data, but also leads to an increased usage of finite and unique osteological material. To overcome this, it is theoretically possible to estimate site occupation interval spans using an intertwined matrix of genomic admixture intervals, and only a handful radiocarbon dates for calibration, if calendar dates are required.

Área de intervenção: Nacional

Investigador Responsável na UC: Doutora Ana Maria Gama da Silva

Unidade Orgânica UC: DCV-FCTUC

Instituição Financiadora/Gestora: Comissão Europeia - European Research Executive Agency

Programa de Financiamento: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-02-01

Período de execução: 01/07/2024 a 30/06/2026

Custo total elegível (EUR): 172 618,56 €

Apoio financeiro da UE: 172 618,56 €

Técnico do Projeto: Ana Rita Simões - anarita.simoes@uc.pt

Contacto: +351 239 247 017