Session: #224

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
Theories and methods in archaeological sciences
Session format:
Session, made up of a combination of papers, max. 15 minutes each

Title & Content

Title:
Bioarchaeological approaches towards understanding diet and subsistence, and their role in the formation of early societies
Content:
This session aims to bring together archaeologists from a range of bioarchaeological sub-disciplines researching dietary habits and subsistence practices of prehistoric populations. We are especially interested in researchers using osteoarchaeological, zooarchaeological, palaeoenvironmental, and stable isotope approaches towards answering questions about diet, past agricultural practices and animal management during this crucial period of time.
We encourage papers pertaining to the 5th-2nd millennia BC, a period which sees an intensification and specialisation of agriculture in conjunction with many other important cultural, economical, and societal changes. The differing approaches towards agriculture would have had socio-economical and socio-political repercussions. This period marks the advent of what might be deemed as recognisably ‘modern societies’, as well as the foundation of urbanisation.Understanding diet and subsistence practices are crucial to understanding the development of increasingly complex societies.
By examining the development of agricultural practices we can gain a better understanding of how populations were organised, in terms of labour divisions and resource provisioning strategies. We can also enhance understanding of how the local environment and climate affected populations and the decision making processes that helped populations counteract these natural factors. This session aims to directly address these issues and bring together scholars utilising contemporary theories and methodologies to approach this stimulating epoch of human development.
Keywords:
Agriculture, Isotopes, Prehistory, Pastoralism,
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no

Organisers

Main organiser:
Dr Benjamin Irvine (Turkey) 1
Co-organisers:
Dr Jennifer Jones (United Kingdom) 2
Affiliations:
1. BIAA (British Institute at Ankara)
2. The University of Aberdeen