Introduction to interdisciplinary research of human past with integration of archaeology, genetics, (and linguistics) in the study of (pre)history. During the workshop participants were introduced to the standard research tools used in human population genetics and metagenomic analysis. During group work pariticpants used the learned skills to combine the data of archaeology, anthropology and genetics to create the interdisciplinary stories of the past.
Archaeogenomics workshop was lead by Prof Kristiina Tambets, Assoc Professor Mari Tõrv, Assoc Professor Alena Kushniarevich, Research Fellow Lehti Saag and Junior Researcher Kadri Irdt all from the University of Tartu, Estonia and facilitated by Biancamaria Bonucci, Stefania Sasso and Erkin Alacamli.
Participants were introduced to the third Scientific Revolution in Archaeology (the strontium/DNA revolution introducing to archaeology prehistoric population genomics and migrations has transformed previous relative knowledge into absolute knowledge.
Participants were introduced to the population genetic methods for studying past events:
Population structure – migrations, continuity, changes through time (natural and cultural context). Also to kinship studies which give insights into the past social life and paleoepidemiology that tells about past pathogens (bacteria and viruses), spread and dynamics of disease-related genetic variants, associations with environmental changes. Dietary reconstruction are possible just as different reconstruction of microbiom - with dental calculus (oral microbiome) and coprolites (gut microbiome).
During the worksop, participants learned how different disciplines and methods allow us to address different i) layers and ii) aspects of our (deep) past and there are Scales of History.
Prof Mari Tõrv and Prof Kristiina Tambets introduced the concept of only one past, that is revealed for us in many ways – there are complementary records of the past. These records are informative about different time-depths of past and none of the different records represents an unbiased picture of the past. Understanding the chronology allows comparison of evidence from different scientific approaches
Participants learned how to be cautios and respectful with the material culture that is a non-renewable resource.
The study of Archeogenetics and Archeogenomics will integrate different disciplines to understand ourselves and our neighbours, solve complex problems in today's world. Importantly, this discipline is not only for the "lab rats".
Group work focused on multidisciplinary approach combining archaeology, anthropology, and genetic results where during each day focus is on uncovering the (pre)-history using different “tools” of Archeogenomics. Then participants will use available data and try to study them with the gained knowledge!
Getting to know the specifics of the Estonian Biobank
Group work presentation with facilitators Stefania Sasso, Toni de Dios, Erkin Alacamli and Biancamari Bonucci.
Steven Smit introduces the workflow in the Estonian Biobank
Finishing the worksop on complex and challenging discipline of Archaeogenomics
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