SKELETAL BONE & BRONZE OBJECTS: PIONEERING NEW BRONZE AGE RESEARCH

This collaborative project aims to establish a database of human remains in burials from the period c. 2000-1300 BCE, in order to commence scientific analyses on this key source material. For instance, sampling for 14C is planned and those stable isotopes that inform about food intake, health and mobility (Sr, N, C, O). Additional, it is planned to explore bronze objects to locate tiny organic remains hidden in the corrosion layers: Pollen and macro remains can be radiometrically dated (high-precision 14C). To date bronze objects precisely is a core issue for scientific progress. However, the method is new and in need of ‘tuning’ to fit bronze objects.