Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Reindeer system and climatic change  (RSCC)

Outline
Aims: - An ethno-archaeological systemic analysis that enables one to assess the impact of environmental changes on reindeer behaviour. - To establish a (or several) actualistic and interdisciplinary model(s) transferable to Prehistoric societies. - To re-use Prehistoric data in order to establish a model capable of predicting facts. During the Late Glacial period of Prehistory (13,000 to 9,700 BP), in what is today temperate Europe, the mobility of human groups was considered to be linked to reindeer patterns of behaviour. At the end of this period, due to substantial climatic warming, this animal disappears. Siberia consists of very varied biotopes. These are comparable to the ones appearing in succession during the period studied. Technological, social, economic and symbolic traditions of different groups living in this vast territory are based on reindeer exploitation. After giving precisions on the correlations between environmental constraints, the size of human groups and their degree of mobility, we will try to establish the amount of freedom that the environment permits so as to make the system viable. What are the various possible choices? Even though reindeer show a capacity to adapt their feeding habits to Arctic and peri-Arctic ecosystems, in the ten last years it has been possible to observe their gradual disappearance, thought to be related to climatic warming. Reindeer breeders migrate to areas of higher elevation or to colder zones (even in winter). How can these groups adapt to the disappearance of reindeer while this animal is at the apex of their subsistence?

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The societies with which we work are undergoing profound changes, as they are subjected tosocio-economic, political and environmental modifications. Actualistic data should enable us to reconstruct certain aspects of the evolutions and behaviour of past societies, whilst the long-term trends observed during the past should help in establishing predictive models in order to anticipate future changes. If we take this into account, the results expected from our fieldwork should largely go beyond the simple transference of current-day observation to past periods.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
- CNRS (France) - Rusian Museum of Ethnography -St Petersbourg (Russie) - University of Chita (Russie) - University of Parme (Italie) - Prairie and Northern Wildlife Reasearch- Saskatchewan (Canada) - Center National Hydrology Research Institut - Saskatchewan (Canada)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Yakoutie, and Nord of Kamchatka (see the map enclosed) Various teams work with various latitudes at various seasons

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/06 - 11/06      01/07- 04/07       09/07 - 03/8
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This project does not require a heavy support logistic

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Commercial operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This program already financed by Ministers of French Research and Rusian Museum of Ethnography -St Petersbourg (Russie)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Expansion
This project forms part of a program multi-field (prehistory, physical and biological anthropology, medicine and biochemistry) about biological and cultural adaptation in extreme climate. The aims are to appreciate the variability in the actual modes of adaptation of human groups under climatic pressure and to put forward a model that can allow a batter understanding of prehistoric systemic and social, economic, technical, sanitary as well as their symbolic implications. This project started in 2005.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Several strategies will be carried out: -To define physical and biological factors possibly influencing the availability of resources (fauna, flora and ecosystems) -To assess actual reindeer adaptations to available food resources in the various biozones in which they migrate and to examine different modes of exploitation (reindeer breeding, hunting) through biochemical methods (by establishing an actualistic reference study based on rates of isotopic carbon, nitrogen and phosphates). -To establish a map of the areas where reindeer breeders have migrated in the last ten years in order to understand geographical factors influencing strategies and choices. -Admittedly final comparisons between three different zones will be attempted: the sterile Tundra (68° of latitude north), the forested Taiga (55° of latitude north) and an intermediary zone located at 63 ° of latitude north).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
-A photo exposure on the topics of the project will turn in various Russian museums as from March 2005. -- An international conference is organized in 2008 October (week of the 19 October) au Palais of the congress of Antibes. During this congress the results of the program will be presented. The financings are already obtained for the congress and for the publication.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Parts of the geographical data will be gathered in a GIS. The starting question will be: can one by GIS translate a strategy of displacement of a group around the etology of the reindeer ?

How is it proposed to fund the project?
This program already financed by : - CNRS (France) - Ministers of French Research -Rusian Museum of Ethnography -St Petersbourg (Russie) -Financings will be requested from the IPEV

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Sylvie Beyries
UMR 6130-CNRS 250 rue A. Einstein - Sophia Antipolis - 06140 Valbonne France
211 route de Canorgues - 06140 - Tourrettes-sur-Loup France

France

Tel: 00 33 (0)4 93 95 42 94
Mobile: (0)6 82 29 43 27
Fax: 00 33 (0)4 93 65 29 05
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information