Project title: Life and Death in Iron Age Latvia (5th – 12th centuries CE): a Bioarchaeological Study
Project No.: lzp-2025/1-0051
Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028
Project costs: 300 000,00 EUR
Coordinator: University of Latvia
Principal Investigator BMC: Dr. biol. Renāte Ranka
Project summary:
The aim of the project is to study the quality of life and the internal organisation of cemeteries in Iron Age Latvia (5th – 12th centuries AD) using bioarchaeological data. We will use sufficiently preserved archaeological and osteological material from cemeteries in various locations. The study of the quality of life and living conditions will be based on palaeopathological, dietary stable isotope and microbiome analyses. We will compare data between individuals of different gender, sex, and age groups within and between cemeteries. Alongside using archaeological methods to study burial traditions, we will apply innovative approach to decipher the internal organisation of selected cemeteries with biomolecular (DNA) and biogeochemical (stable isotopes, peptides) methods. DNA analysis will be used to study the genetic makeup, including kinship and ancestry, of individuals, burial groups, and cemetery populations. Isotope analysis will highlight differences in diet between individuals and burial groups, as well as their mobility. The results will be disseminated in international scientific conferences and journals, including Q1/Q2, and OpenAccess. The use of state-of-the-art technologies and methods will promote the development of the field of archaeology in Latvia. The results of the project will generate comparable data for researchers in Latvia and abroad, thus revealing new information about similarities and differences in the history of the Baltic and European countries.
Information published 05.01.2026.
Progress of the project:
1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026
The first project team meeting was used to confirm objectives, discuss timeframe, and guide next steps. In alignment with the objectives of the project, selection process of archaeological samples from Iron Age cemeteries was started. Our previous experience and expertise regarding aDNA preservation was used to help select archaeological human samples which are most likely suitable for endogenous DNA isolation. Well-preserved petrous bones and teeth samples were prioritised. Sampling strategy was further developed and discussed, ensuring that research priorities align with the expectations and feasibility. Tooth/bone powder was obtained from the first selected archaeological human skeletal and dental samples.
Information published 31.03.2026.