In the study of past humans, few finds are more telling than the remains of humans themselves. Bone and teeth have always been important evidence for archaeologists and have only become more central following the development of new methods for analysing ancient DNA and proteins. Such biomolecules tell stories of individuals and populations through time. Unfortunately, the material is sensitive to decay and contamination. This can create challenges for analytical work and can limit the possibilities for reconstructing past life. Therefore, it is essential to understand how organic remains degrade or are preserved. This is not easy. These are complex materials buried in a complex environment over hundreds and thousands of years. Biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, furthermore, are invisible to the naked eye. Which factors influence the preservation of archaeological biological remains from macro to molecular level? To investigate this, the Future Past project is carrying out both an excavation in a medieval cemetery in Stavanger, and analysis of skeletal remains in the collections of the Museum of Archaeology (UiS), recovered from Stavanger and the surrounding areas. The project uses a multi-proxy approach to describe both environmental conditions (soil geochemistry, palynology, entomology, soil lipid analysis), and skeletal preservation (bone histology and chemistry, stable isotope analyses and ancient DNA) at different scales, in- and ex situ. The project combines traditional archaeology with environmental science and molecular biology, using state-of-the-art methods for the analysis of biological remains and environmental conditions. The overall goal of the project aim is to contribute to the improvement of methods to secure and store this type of valuable but fragile source materials. Another aim is to carry out detailed bioarchaeological analyses of a subset of the skeletal collections under study. The archaeological remains and bioarchaeological analyses have the potential to provide new insights into who the first inhabitants of Stavanger were and how the city developed in relation to the surrounding areas. The project will illustrate the value of the bioarchaeological archive, depending on environmental conditions and nature of preservation.
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