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Advancing Bayesian Methods for Typo-Chronologically Dated Archaeological Datasets

Project description

Decoding time in the digital age

Archaeologists tend to deal with imprecise dates. Artefacts are frequently given periods such as 200-400 CE instead of specific years. This complicates tracking patterns through time. Overlooking these uncertainties can skew our understanding of history. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BTChron project will create new Bayesian techniques to improve the analysis of these imprecise time frames. In general, the project is interested in zooarchaeological evidence from Roman periods in Western Europe. Specifically, it explores changes in livestock in line with Romanisation by combining data science and archaeology to redefine chronology. Its open-access software will allow researchers all over the world to produce more accurate interpretations, ensuring that legacy data are no longer left behind in the digital era.

Objective

BTChron aims to advance chronological methods in archaeology by developing innovative Bayesian approaches to the analysis of typo-chronologically dated datasets, where temporal attributes are typically reported as time spans. Failure to formally integrate these time spans into statistical analyses can potentially lead to biases in interpretation. The proposed research addresses the critical limitations of current methods, which are inadequate for dealing with chronological uncertainty.

Applicable to any temporal analysis of large archaeological datasets, the proposal will make a substantial contribution to the field of quantitative archaeology by providing robust statistical tools for chronological analysis, ensuring the integration of legacy data into new, scientifically rigorous frameworks.

The proposal is interdisciplinary, combining data science approaches with archaeological/historical methods and zooarchaeology. BTChron will select open access datasets to model temporal changes in three metrics commonly used in zooarchaeological analysis: LSI (Log-Size-Index), NISP (Number of Identified Specimens) and age-at-death. By focusing on faunal assemblages from Western Europe during the Roman period, BTChron will also provide a more accurate understanding of agricultural changes driven by Romanisation. The results will improve archaeological interpretations and contribute to open science through reproducible methods and accessible data.

The proposed research will be conducted at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research in Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Enrico Crema, a leading expert in applications of Bayesian approaches to archaeological data problems.

This fellowship will allow the Researcher to develop their expertise in data science approaches, which is essential for their future ambitions in the field of quantitative archaeology.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Net EU contribution
€ 260 347,92
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data