Objective Sheep (Ovis aries) is one of the most important and widely distributed domestic species worldwide according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and considered one of the ‘big five’ livestock species alongside cattle, goat, pig and chicken. The high number of sheep breeds with worldwide distribution, and the 11,000 years alongside humans makes them a fascinating, yet difficult species to study. Important information on the history of domestic sheep has been obtained from ancient faunal remains using ‘traditional’ zooarchaeological methods based on osteology and morphology, with relatively less little contribution from ancient genetics, compared to domesticates such as dogs or horses. OVinE will train the early researcher Eve Rannamäe in state-of-the art methods from zooarchaeology and ancient genomics to document the introduction, spread, and development of domestic sheep. Focusing on north-eastern (NE) Europe, where studies on sheep history and diversity are scarce compared to the rest of Europe, but where the extant indigenous breeds are highly valued for their genetic diversity, OVinE will: 1) clarify the timing and origins of the first sheep in NE Europe; 2) decipher the development and improvement of sheep populations from the Late Neolithic (c. 3000–1800 BC) through to the Modern period (AD 1800–1950); 3) clarify the affinities between ancient sheep populations and local indigenous breeds. Fields of science humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAagricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomeshumanitieshistory and archaeologyarchaeologybioarchaeology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF YORK Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address HESLINGTON YO10 5DD York North Yorkshire United Kingdom See on map Region Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire York Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 183 454,80