Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #216: Middle Holocene hunter-gatherers of circumpolar Siberia: A case study from the Baikal region  (Baikal Archaeology Project (BAP))

Outline
The Baikal Archaeology Project is an international and multidisciplinary team of scholars studying Middle Holocene circumpolar hunter-gatherers of the Baikal region of Siberia. In 2001, funded in large part by the SSHRC’s Major Collaborative Research Initiative (MCRI) program, the project launched an extensive 5-year investigation into an apparent 'biocultural discontinuity' observed in the mortuary archaeological record dating to the 5th millennium BC, or Middle Neolithic period. Results from this research demonstrated that this discontinuity existed for as much as 1200 years and that the Early Neolithic (c. 5600–5100 BC) and Late Neolithic/Bronze Age (c. 4000–1200 BC) groups, which lived in the area on either side of this hiatus, were genetically dissimilar. Further differences between these pre- and post-hiatus groups are noted with regard to dietary preferences, subsistence and land use patterns, population size and distribution, and mortuary ritual including grave disturbance patterns. Climate and environmental change in the region also seems to somewhat coincide with this 1200-year period of biological and cultural discontinuity. These exciting findings have generated new research questions and a broader methodological and theoretical perspective that warrant further investigation. During the course of our first MCRI, much of the research has focused on the examination of a few large cemeteries. Having now defined the biocultural parameters of pre- and post-hiatus populations, our goal is to understand better the mechanisms underlying this discontinuity and to document archaeological evidence representing the Middle Neolithic groups. To meet these objectives, our emphasis will be on the excavation and study of new archaeological collections from both stratified habitation sites and small cemeteries. The integration of these new data sets with those derived from previously excavated large cemeteries offers the most cohesive means of addressing the issues identified by the results of our first MCRI and advancing our research further. Our focus now is on two key questions: (1) The mechanisms underlying the development and abandonment of large formal cemeteries in Cis-Baikal during the Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Bronze Age; and (2) The nature of hunter-gatherer adaptation during the elusive Middle Neolithic period which apparently featured a reconfiguration of the cultural and biological profile of Cis-Baikal. The complexity of these cultural processes, as demonstrated by our work, and the very diverse character of the empirical materials that require examination in order to address our primary research questions in a comprehensive manner, clearly necessitate an interdisciplinary approach. The BAP team is well positioned to implement and expand on this unique research opportunity. The interdisciplinary breadth of participating scholars is represented by such disciplines as archaeology, physical anthropology, molecular biology, ethnography, geophysics and geochemistry, and spatial and palaeoenvironmental studies. While the project is based at the University of Alberta, team member affiliations extend to other Canadian, Russian, British, and American institutions. The project’s five research modules, including Archaeology, Human Osteology, Human Genetics, Palaeoenvironment, and Ethnoarchaeology, are each composed of diverse scholars, ranging from established researchers in their respective fields to recent PhD graduates who have each been instrumental research participants during the first stage of this project. Strong collaboration both within and between modules will allow the proposed research to proceed from a highly interdisciplinary perspective. The Cis-Baikal region of Siberia represents an anthropologically and archaeologically unique area for studying the complexity, variability and dynamics of long-term culture change among prehistoric circumpolar hunter-gatherer groups. The exceptional quality of archaeological materials, interdisciplinary breadth of team members, strong student training component, and dedication to long-term international collaboration makes this research a highly original and feasible endeavour. Its relevance extends far beyond that of the Lake Baikal region and represents one of the most comprehensive studies in the history of circumpolar archaeology.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will be a major contribution to the Human Dimension theme. The Baikal region is one of the only circumpolar area in the world where prehistoric hunter-gatherers, without any kind of input from food producing groups, have established cultural systems of very high complexity as manifest in formal cemeteries. However, even though these cultures lasted in excess of 1000 years, eventually both the Early Neolithic and the Late Neolithic/Bronze age groups eventually did ‘collapse’. The study of the growth and collapse of complex hunter-gatherers in the circumpolar environment will be thus directly relevant to investigation of “… the cultural historical, and social processes that shape the sustainability of circumpolar human societies” as outlined in the theme description.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project will be implemented by an interdisciplinary team of 13 investigators, 12 collaborators, and a number of graduate students from Canada, Russia, United Kingdom, and USA. The team has an overlapping experience in Siberian and North American circumpolar hunter-gather archaeology and ethnography, physical anthropology, palaeoecology and ancient DNA research.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The archaeological fieldwork will take place in the Baikal region of Eastern Siberia, the ethnoarchaeological fieldwork will be organized in several locations also within Eastern Siberia, the collection of modern DNA material will likely encompass indigenous communities spread over much of Siberia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/2006 – 08/2006      06/2007 – 08/2007      06/2008 – 08/2008
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Since the project will be heavily involved in fieldwork, it will require a few field bases. Either some of the existing Russian research stations will be adopted for this purpose, or new ‘mobile’ facilities will be established. It is very likely that we will be able to make all our research bases available to other projects interested in the area.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
One of our important goals involves establishing dependable field stations in the Baikal region and the development of high quality archaeological laboratories in the city of Irkutsk, which is the main academic centre for Eastern Siberia. Our network of academic contacts in Irkutsk has been built over the last 15 years. The network is very broad, both in disciplinary and institutional terms, and will facilitate our project should appropriate funding be secured.

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

If successful the new SSHRC MCRI grant will provide funding for research and some limited support towards fieldwork facilities. New funding will need to be obtained in order to build the more permanent infrastructure as described in item 2.4.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
BAP has been extensively funded by SSHRC for the last fifteen years including several Standard Research Grants, doctoral fellowships, and one MCRI award of $2.3 million (2001–2006). A Letter of Intent to extend our current MCRI funding for another 5-year term has been submitted to SSHRC in January 2005. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). On-going discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Theme:Healthy and Sustainable Communities Sub-theme: Archaeology

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?
yes
As indicated, the BAP has been steadily growing over the last 15 years, and the new funding from the SSHRC MCRI program, if successful, will extend its activities until 2011.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Our management structures are all in place as they have been installed during our first MCRI term. The project will be based at the UA with additional hubs in Calgary, Irkutsk (Russia), Aberdeen (Scotland), London (England) and Philadelphia (USA). It will be managed by a group consisting of five module leaders including A. Weber (Archaeology), A. Katzenberg (Human Osteology), F. Bamforth (Genetics), A. Bush (Paleoecology), D. Anderson (Ethnoarchaeology) and one or two scholars representing the Russian participants.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
BAP has engaged in a number of outreach and education projects throughout the history of the project, including a partnership with New Sarepta Community School to develop curricula materials. We anticipate developing similar projects in the future, and more details will be provided in the full proposal. In addition, our recently reached memorandum of understanding with the Smithsonian Institute should provide opportunities for broader international outreach.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
In this regard, we will again follow the model successfully tested during our current MCRI grant. The data generated by the project will be shared by all project members via the private part of the BAP website. Once published, the data will be gradually transferred to the public section.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be a financial partnership between SSHRC ($2.5 million) and all involved western universities ($1.35 million cash and $0.77 million in-kind), with additional in-kind contributions from the Russian partners. Appropriate lab and office space will be provided by the participating institutions. New funding, however, will be required to undertake some additional analyses and further build the infrastructure in Russia (c. $0.5 million).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Over the last five years, the Baikal Archaeology Project has grown to a level of international excellence and leadership. The current proposal is another product of this sound investment and of our commitment to long-term archaeological investigations with an interdisciplinary approach in a region where few Western scholars have been successful in developing sustained research. This is a highly original and feasible research project bound to produce results of historical impact. It will add new depth and quality to our ongoing exploration of prehistoric circumpolar hunter-gatherers in a region that is important from Canadian, North American and global perspectives. Finally, due to its international and interdisciplinary character, breadth of the modern methodologies, emphasis on generation of high quality empirical data, strong graduate training component, dedication to long-term collaboration, and very wide academic significance, the project meets the criter! ia of the International Polar Year program exceptionally well.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Andrzej Weber
University of Alberta
Tory Building 13-15
Edmonton, AB
T6G 2H4
Canada

Tel: 780-492-0185
Mobile:
Fax: 780-492-5273
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information