Objective
mAARiTIME is a highly interdisciplinary project, which brings together the fields of Archaeology, Biology, Chemistry, Geochronology and Quaternary Sciences. Through protein geochronology (amino acid racemisation dating, AAR), it seeks to answer two specific but vital questions: when did early humans become “modern”, and is “modern” behaviour unique to our own species?
Behavioural modernity has fortuitously left traces in the archaeological record as molluscan remains, one of the best substrates for AAR dating. Molluscs were exploited as a food resource and shells were used as personal ornaments, providing some of the earliest evidence of symbolic thinking displayed by early humans. These appear between 160-70 ka ago, a period which falls tantalisingly outside that of many commonly applied dating techniques. AAR is able to yield direct age information for mollusc shells, and its broad temporal span (the whole Quaternary, 0-2.6 Ma) makes it the ideal method for framing chronologically the debate over the origins of modern human behaviour.
mAARiTIME will focus on the Mediterranean rim, which is key to the development of behavioural modernity. By applying a novel (closed-system) method of AAR dating, mAARiTIME will build chronological frameworks able to provide reliable dating control for this area. The method will be rigorously tested by laboratory experiments on different molluscan taxa as well as by comparing the AAR data with independent age information. A detailed investigation of protein breakdown will also be performed by applying state-of-the-art proteomics and imaging techniques.
Other than producing important advances in geochronology and archaeological sciences, mAARiTIME will enable the development of long-lasting collaboration between a network of researchers in Northern and Southern Europe, coordinated by the applicant, and with the long-term goal of establishing a AAR dating facility in Southern Europe.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology geochronology
- humanities history and archaeology archaeology archaeometry
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
YO10 5DD YORK NORTH YORKSHIRE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.