Archaeologists investigate 7,500 year old cemetery
Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 09 August 2006 Page Views: 1594
DiscoveriesCountry: Czechia (Czech Republic) A team of archaeologists from the University of Sheffield have provided a unique insight into the cultural and biological lives of early farmers living in the Czech Republic 7,500 years ago. The researchers conducted genetic and DNA tests on the bones of a sample of 85 early Neolithic farmers found in a cemetery in Vedrovice, Czech Republic. Their findings suggest that these early farmers were actually indigenous to Eastern Europe, and not migrants from the middle and near East as was previously thought.The research project, which began last year, involves researchers from universities in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic. The study was set up to investigate both the cultural and biological lives of these people who introduced farming and agriculture to Western Europe. Through analysis of bone fragments, the scientists have been able to determine where these people were born, what injuries and illnesses they suffered from, and where and how they died.
From the 16 - 18 June, scientists, researchers and politicians from the Czech Republic visited the University of Sheffield for a special presentation of the study's initial findings which will be attended by the University's Pro Vice-Chancellor for research, Professor Geof Tomlinson.
Professor Marek Zvelebil from the University of Sheffield's Department of Archaeology said: "I'm delighted to welcome our colleagues from the Czech Republic to Sheffield for the presentation of our study's initial findings, which promise to be very interesting. This research has given us new insights into the lives, health and ancestry of these early farming pioneers. What's more, they seem to have adopted agricultural techniques locally, rather than 'importing' them from the East as was previously thought. If we can conclusively prove this to be the case, it will be a major discovery in our understanding of how farming spread across Europe in the early Neolithic period."
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