Palaeomobility in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Osteoarchaeological Dimension

This project examines human mobility in the Eastern Mediterranean from Neolithic to Byzantine times. The Eastern Mediterranean is a region the connectivity of which has been highlighted by numerous scholars; however, relevant studies have focused almost exclusively on material (trade) networks. Even though such networks suggest material culture exchanges among past societies, it is not clear to what extent they involved the movement and direct interaction of individuals beyond middlemen or craftsmen. Such information can be provided through the study of human skeletal remains.

03 map with networking skeleton 1 webDental morphology is largely hereditary, thus the study of specific dental traits can offer insights to the patterns of phenetic and, subsequently, genetic divergence of past human groups. In addition, strontium isotopes analysis can discriminate local from non-local individuals and, occasionally, even identify the point of origin of the non-locals. In the context of this project, data has so far been collected from almost 30 prehistoric assemblages from Greece, while currently Greek, Cypriot and Lebanese material dating from the Archaic to Byzantine times is being studied.

Data collection has been funded by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, the British School at Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Research Committee, the Cypriot Research and Innovation Foundation, and The Cyprus Institute.

In the context of Promised, KU Leuven will provide invaluable training in Sr isotopes analysis to CyI project members and will actively contribute to the establishment of a map of bioavailable Sr isotopes for Cyprus.

Relevant dissemination

  • Invited talk at the Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus, 12th November 2018.
  • Rathmann, H., Kyle, B., Nikita, E., Harvati, K., & Saltini Semerari, G. (2019). Population history of southern Italy during Greek colonization inferred from dental remains. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 170(4), 519-534.
  • Nikita, E., Alexander, M., Carver, M., Chaouali, M., Fenwick, C., LeRoux, P., Pilides, D., Procopiou, E., Radini, A., Themelis, P. People in Motion: Tracing Human Mobility Across the Mediterranean in the Byzantine Era. Podium presentation, 3rd Annual Conference on Byzantine and Medieval Studies, Nicosia, 17th-19th January 2020.
  • Nikita, E. Bioarchaeological approaches to human mobility in the EMME and beyond: The People in Motion project in context. Podium presentation, 2nd International Congress on Archaeological Sciences in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Nicosia, 12th-14th November 2019.
  • Nikita, E., Alexander, M., Carver, M., Chaouali, M., Fenwick, C., LeRoux, P., Pilides, D., Procopiou, E., Radini, A., Themelis, P. People in Motion: Tracing Human Mobility Across the Mediterranean in the Byzantine Era. Podium presentation, 3rd Annual Conference on Byzantine and Medieval Studies, Nicosia, 17th-20th January 2020.
  • Nikita, E., Alexander, M., Carver, M., Chaouali, M., Fenwick, C., LeRoux, P., Pilides, D., Procopiou, E., Radini, A., Themelis, P. People in Motion: tracing human mobility across the Mediterranean in the Byzantine era. Podium presentation, 21st Annual Conference of the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Natural History Museum, London, 13th-15th September 2019.