Unveiling the hidden diversity in hunter-gatherer and early farmer diets
Public support
Provider
Czech Science Foundation
Programme
Standard projects
Call for proposals
SGA0202600001
Main participants
Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích / Přírodovědecká fakulta
Contest type
VS - Public tender
Contract ID
26-20885S
Alternative language
Project name in Czech
Unveiling the hidden diversity in hunter-gatherer and early farmer diets
Annotation in Czech
The transformation from a hunter-gatherer economy to agriculture constituted a milestone in food-related behaviour. However, the extent of the actual diversity in the diet of prehistoric hunter-gatherers and first farmers has been underestimated, particularly concerning resources that cannot be detected and identified by macroscopic methods like starchy roots and tubers, adipose fats from animals, fish oil, bee and milk products. We propose multidisciplinary research applied to the stone and bone tools, early pottery, and dental calculus to study food behaviour from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Neolithic in Czechia. A combined study of tools and organic residues will employ diverse methodologies such as studying taphonomy, microwear traces, phytoliths, starch, pollen, and the biomolecular approach. It will enable us to acquire a detailed picture of the occurrence of relevant types of food resources, which are invisible in the archaeological records through traditional methods. The project will explore spatiotemporal diversity in past dietary behaviour.
Scientific branches
R&D category
ZV - Basic research
OECD FORD - main branch
60102 - Archaeology
OECD FORD - secondary branch
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OECD FORD - another secondary branch
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CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)
AC - Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology
Solution timeline
Realization period - beginning
Jan 1, 2026
Realization period - end
Dec 31, 2028
Project status
Z - Beginning multi-year project
Latest support payment
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Data delivery to CEP
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data delivery code
CEP26-GA0-GA-R
Data delivery date
May 12, 2026
Finance
Total approved costs
10,926 thou. CZK
Public financial support
10,812 thou. CZK
Other public sources
114 thou. CZK
Non public and foreign sources
0 thou. CZK