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Research themes

Our group specializes in biomolecular archaeology, with particular focus on the following research topics.

Interdisciplinary research forms the foundation of our work. Positioned at the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences, our team develops and applies cross‑disciplinary approaches that unite archaeology, history, biomolecular science, biology, medicine, and environmental studies. We are committed not only to using these integrated methods in practice but also to advancing the broader conceptual and theoretical frameworks that shape this emerging post‑disciplinary field.

Mortuary rituals reveal how societies understand death, memory, and identity. They shape social transitions, express beliefs, and help communities cope with loss. The Archemy team studies these practices across different time periods in the Eastern Baltic, combining cultural interpretation with scientific approaches. Bioarchaeological methods – such as osteology, archaeothanatology, isotope analysis, and ancient DNA – add depth by linking burial traditions to the life ways and identities of the deceased.

Food and dietary practices offer valuable insights into past lifeways and health. At the Archemy Group, we investigate ancient diets through multi‑proxy biomolecular approaches, including lipid and protein residue analysis from pottery, and stable isotope and dental calculus analysis from skeletal remains. By integrating these techniques with ecofact-based evidence, we reconstruct subsistence strategies, economic organisation, and environmental change. Equally important, we explore diet as a cultural practice—one that shapes social identities and reflects community values. Our research also examines the links between nutrition and health, tracing how dietary habits relate to disease patterns and physical changes over time.

The study of plant and animal remains provides key insights into past human lifeways and environmental engagement. At the Archemy Group, we analyse archaeological plant and animal remains with established morphological as well as biomolecular methods to examine how people interacted with, managed, and conceptualised biological resources. By integrating archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological evidence with cultural and historical perspectives, we explore the roles of plants and animals in economic practices, ritual behaviour, and identity formation.

Strontium and oxygen isotope analysis offer powerful ways to trace ancient human mobility and origins. By mapping bioavailable strontium across Estonia and comparing it with isotopic signals from archaeological remains, researchers can distinguish locals from migrants and uncover patterns of movement. These studies deepen our understanding of prehistoric mobility and emphasize the need for broader baseline mapping across the Eastern Baltic. The Archemy team, in collaboration with the University of Tartu’s Department of Geology, is at the forefront of advancing this research.

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