Duration: 2020
Abstract: Neutron imaging at IMAT will be applied to the study of burned human skeletal remains, for assessing heat-induced changes associated to alterations in bone ́s microcrystallinity. This work follows successful experiments on MAPS, TOSCA and GEM which were the first studies on human burned bones by neutron techniques and allowed us to identify spectral biomarkers of heat-elicited alterations.
Combined spectroscopic (including FTIR and Raman), diffraction and imaging methods are expected to provide an improved understanding of the variations undergone by bone upon burning. A quantitative relationship between these data, dimensional variations and burning conditions is sought, to relate burned to pre-burned parameters. This is an innovative way of tackling heat-induced changes in human bone, with a high impact in forensic profiling as well as in bioarchaeological investigation.
Coordinator: Maria Paula Marques
Participants: David Gonçalves (CIAS)
Partner institutions: Unidade I&D de Química Física Molecular, Laboratório de Arqueociências (Direção-Geral do Património Cultural), Rutterford Appleton Laboratory
Financial support: Science and Technology Facilities Council
Reference: ISIS Beamtime Application – 1910012 (TOSCA)
Duration: 2020
Abstract: Neutron spectroscopy is applied to study bones exposed to anaerobic burning. The results will complement previous data on skeletal remains burned in an aerobic setting, through INS, FTIR and Raman, and neutron diffraction, with a view to provide an improved understanding of the chemical and microcrystallinity variations undergone by bone upon burning events. Particular emphasis is given to the impact of the environmental conditions on these processes, namely on bone´s organic constituents. This is an innovative way of tackling transformations in bone, aiming at the development of a quantitative method for profiling skeletal human remains subject to extreme diagenetic processes which is expected to have a high impact in forensic and bioanthropological sciences.
Coordinator: Maria Paula Marques
Participants: David Gonçalves (CIAS)
Partner institutions: : Unidade I&D de Química Física Molecular, Laboratório de Arqueociências (Direção-Geral do Património Cultural), Rutterford Appleton Laboratory
Financial support: Science and Technology Facilities Council
Reference: ISIS Beamtime Application – RB1920049 (IMAT)
Duration: 2019-2022
Abstract: Apresenta-se aqui um projeto de pesquisa em Bioarqueologia, eminentemente interdisciplinar a ser implementado pela proponente na região foco do interesse de pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI): a Região Nordeste do Brasil. Ele tem como objetivo principal promover a produção de conhecimento sobre a Biologia Humana e
História Populacional do Homem no Nordeste do Brasil, principalmente no que se refere à adaptação deste ao meio ambiente; a afinidade/distância biológica entre populações a nível sincrônico e diacrônico; questões de povoamento regional e sua história populacional, bem como questões demográficas a partir do estudo de remanescentes biológicos humanos. Os resultados desta proposta terão impacto principalmente nas áreas científicas da Arqueologia, Odontologia (e outras Ciências da Saúde), Ciências Forenses e História. Para além dos resultados científicos, o projeto pretende dar oportunidades de
formação teórica e prática em Bioarqueologia/Antropologia Biológica a discentes da UFPI contribuindo para alargar os horizontes de formação desses alunos para uma área científica até agora não explorada pela universidade.
Coordinator (PI): Claudia Minervina Souza Cunha (Universidade Federal do Piauí, Brazil; CIAS)
Participants: Ana Maria Silva (CIAS), Célia Lopes (Universidade de Évora, CIAS), Luís Marado (CIAS), Tiago Tomé (Universidade Federal do Pará, Brazil)
Funding: Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), Piauí, Brasil. Protocolo:
23111.008308/2019-14. Registro: CCN-030-2019. Documento electónico:
https://ufpi.br/arquivos_download/arquivos/PROPESQ/2019-07-
25_Projetos201920190725162918.pdf
Duration: 2019-2022
Abstract: Os materiais biológicos que serão intervencionados no Laboratório de Arqueologia e Estudos de Tecnologia (LATEC) da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI) consistem em remanescentes humanos e itens de cultura material que compunham parte do pacote funerário recuperados do Sítio Lagoa Cercada (Colônia do Gurguéia, Piauí) para o qual existe uma datação sobre carvão de 835-795 cal. BC (Beta 374430). Os materiais resultam de coleta em campo no ano de 2013 e estão armazenados no Núcleo de Antropologia Pré-histórica (NAP) da UFPI, órgão ao qual foram doados. Não houve trabalho bioarqueológico em campo e nem tratamento laboratorial até a presente intervenção, o que resultou em acondicionamento desfavorável dos materiais em papel alumínio. Os remanescentes humanos encontravam-se em diferentes graus de conservação, sendo observadas partes esqueletizadas, partes parcialmente mumificadas e fragmentos de tecidos moles mumificados. Todos os métodos selecionados para o estudo bioarqueológico dependem exclusivamente de análise macroscópica (às vezes com auxílio de lupas manuais) e não implicam em procedimentos invasivos ou destrutivos, sendo altamente conservadores e
garantindo que este estudo não implique em danos aos materiais. Proceder-se-á aos seguintes passos: (1) limpeza dos remanescentes humanos e indústria que encontram-se envoltos em sedimento; (2) seguida pela análise paleobiológica do material; (3) estudo dos materiais votivos que os acompanham, e (3) acondicionamento dos materiais em embalagens inertes.
Coordinator (PI): Claudia Cunha (Universidade Federal do Piauí, Brazil; CIAS)
Participants: Tiago Tomé (Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil)
Funding: Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), Piauí, Brasil. Protocolo:
23111.079787/2018-93. Registro: CCN-029-2019. Documento electónico:
https://ufpi.br/arquivos_download/arquivos/PROPESQ/2019-07-25_Projetos201920190725162918.pdf
Duration: 2019-2021
Abstract: The project “Sarilhos Grandes” began in 2008, as a rescue archaeology intervention to support the work of SIMARSUL, a developing company part of the Águas de Portugal Group. The excavation led to the discovery of 21 burials dated to the 15th-17th centuries. Since then, a multidisciplinary team of experts has conducted a variety of studies with the aim of obtaining information about the diet and diseases of the population of Sarilhos Grandes. The data obtained until 2018 explored the life of a small part of this riverside population, leading to the identification of specific parasites linked to meat and contaminated water ingestion. In addition consumption of potatoes, rye/wheat, beans or chickpeas among others vegetables, as well as crustaceans has also been found. This is the first time that some of these elements, as well as the fungus Candida albicans, were identified in Portugal for the period under study. The excavated area included a Christian necropolis, characterized by simple burial pits (“covachos”), where bodies were generally shrouded and with no associated grave-goods, with the exception of one juvenile burial that included a copper coin (cetil) in the hand. SAND will be a multi-year project (2019-2021) that contemplates the bio-archaeological excavation inside the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (pantheon of the Cotrim family) and the space outside of the chapel including the church of St. George, collecting new data to characterize the diet, pathologies and funerary rituals of the population of Sarilhos Grandes , as well as to potentially recover elements of contact with both the Eastern and Western side of the world. The new archaeological intervention will also aim to identify contexts associated with the construction of the church of St. George and the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
Coordinator (PI): Paula Pereira (University of Lisbon)
Participants: Ana Luísa Santos (CIAS), Ricardo Miguel Godinho (ICArEHB), David Gonçalves (CIAS), Luciana Sianto (CIAS), Álvaro Monge Calleja (CIAS), João Costa (NOVA), António P. Coutinho (University of Coimbra), Alice Toso (University of York, UK)
Financial support: Câmara Municipal do Montijo (Montijo City Hall, Portugal)
Duration: 2019-2020
Abstract: Monte do Carrascal 2 was one of the most interesting burial sites discovered in Portugal recently. Here, two hypogea were dug revealing thousands of human bones. One, the Hypogeum I, is a particularly well-preserved Chalcolithic collective grave (2900-2400 cal. 2d B.C.). The fieldwork implied the total recovery of human remains (N=4679) followed by a strict archaeothanatological protocol allowing taphonomic factors and funerary practices characterization. Anthropological preliminary analysis in the field revealed the presence of 71 individuals: 22 non-adults, two young adults, and 47 adults. For those, sex diagnosis showed a large number of women (N=22) and individuals of undetermined sex (N=24). Only three men were identified. Ulterior DNA studies revealed that 6/8 non-adults analyzed were also females, calling the attention to a possible sexual selection of this grave. Having this in mind and the fact that the physical anthropological analyses during fieldwork were necessarily preliminary, this project aims to bring the material outside the box: study this collection to characterize demographic, morphological and pathological aspects of the population. Data regarding specific funerary behaviors like a possible sex selection of the deceased will also be discussed, being the anthropological classification crossed with DNA results. All data will be compared with coeval populations.
Coordinator (PI): Maria João Neves (CIAS)
Financial support: AIA – Archaeological Institute of America (AIA’s Archaeology of Portugal Fellowship)
Duration: 2019
Abstract:
Coordinator: Yichen Rao (CIAS)
Participants:
Partner institutions:
Financial support: Wenner-Green Foundation
Reference: Gr. 9856
Duration: 2018-2022
Abstract: The eBEfree project aims at testing the effectiveness of an information and communication technology-based delivery version of BEfree in individuals with obesity and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). BED is a serious public health concern, given its prevalence, psychiatric comorbidity and association with obesity, which is currently a major health and economic challenge of epidemic proportions. BED affects obesity onset, maintenance and treatment. BEfree is a 12-session face-to-face group intervention for BED, developed by the current project research team, that integrates mindfulness, compassion, and values. BEfree was found to be effective in treating BED and in improving psychological adjustment. ICT-based interventions are a cost-effective form of treatment delivery that may increase treatment accessibility for individuals with BED and obesity. This project will directly contribute to the treatment of these conditions and improvement of health services at regional and national levels.
Coordinator: José Pinto-Gouveia
Participants: Marina Isabel Antunes da Cunha (CIAS)
Partner institutions: Universidade de Coimbra (UC)/Centro de Investigação de Neuropsicologia e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental (CINEICC)
Financial support: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Reference: PTDC/PSI-GER/29081/2017
Duration: 2018-2021
Abstract: The project aims to develop and expand our knowledge of the transition of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to Neolithic farmers in central Portugal
Coordinator (PI): Nuno Bicho, Célia Gonçalves, João Cascalheira and Lino André
Participants: Cláudia Umbelino (CIAS)
Financial support: EarthWatch Program, USA
Duration: 2018-2021
Abstract: The project ambitions to conduct a comprehensive transdisciplinary approach for understanding the socio-economic organisation of Muslim and Christian populations in Medieval Portugal, via the investigation of their diet and mobility
Coordinator (PI): Anne-France Mauer
Participants: Cláudia Umbelino (CIAS)
Financial support: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Reference: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031599
