New insights into prehistoric human diet and agriculture
Posted on 21 February 2012
While identifying physical fragments of animal and plant remains has given some indications of how our eating and farming habits have evolved over the past 10,000 years, many questions remain. A public lecture at the University of York will explain how an analytical chemical approach is now opening a new window on the past, revealing new perspectives on our ancestors’ lives.
Application of this approach has allowed long-held archaeological theories to be challenged and new perspectives to be revealed
Professor Richard Evershed
As part of the York Biology Lectures
series, Professor Richard Evershed from the University of Bristol, will explore
the application of organic residue analysis to the study of ancient diet,
farming and hunting in prehistory in a lecture on Thursday, 23 February.
Many of our current eating and drinking habits have their origins in the activities of our ancestors who lived thousands of years ago in the ‘Fertile Crescent’ of the Near East. These early farmers began to raise the animals and grow crops – such as cattle and wheat – that we now take for granted as part of our normal 21st century diets.
Professor Evershed said: “Determining how the production of these vital foods spread away from the original centre of domestication to other parts of the ancient world remains a major question in archaeology.”
Professor Evershed, a Professor of Biogeochemistry, is an internationally renowned analytical organic chemist and a leading exponent of biomolecular archaeology who has revolutionised aspects of archaeological science.
The analytical chemical approach uses separation (chromatographic) and identification (mass spectrometric) techniques to reveal preserved biomolecules. Once identified, the structure(s) and isotopic composition(s) of a given biomolecule, or suite of biomolecules, are used as ‘chemical fingerprints’ to determine the ways animals and plants were exploited and consumed by humans in the past.
Professor Evershed said: “Application of this approach has allowed long-held archaeological theories to be challenged and new perspectives to be revealed in relation to otherwise invisible, yet vitally important, dimensions of the lives of our ancestors.”
Admission to the lecture, “New
insights into prehistoric human diet and agriculture through ancient
biomolecules and stable isotopes”, on Thursday, 23 February at 6.30pm
in the Berrick Saul Building BS/005 is free. No booking is required.
Notes to editors:
- The University hosts a series of public lectures covering a wide variety of subjects every year. A complete list is available at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/
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