Ubbo Emmius PhD scholarship in ecological archaeology University of Groningen - Groningen Institute of Archaeology This scholarship is open only to applicants without a Dutch nationality and is funded by the University of Groningen. The 4-years stipend will be about € 1,390 monthly. *Period* Available from September 1^st 2006. *Subject* PLAYNOLOGICAL RESEARCH SWIFTERBANT (The Netherlands) Introduction Excavations at Swifterbant in the 1960’s and 1970 have yielded a large corpus of information on the occupation of a micro region during the Mesolithic and Neolithic demonstrating the early transition to farming in the northern part of the Netherlands. In 2004 the Groningen Institute of Archaeology of the University of Groningen continued the excavations in order to answer a number of important research questions left unsolved. The proposed Ph.D. research contributes to our knowledge on landscape development, local raw material sources and transport routes on the basis of palynological research. /Research topics/ The research focuses on three interrelated research topics to be analysed in sequence. These topics are: 1. To gain more insight in the taphonomy of the levee sites on the basis of palynological analysis in comparison with other ecological sources (diatoms, plant macro remains). The diatom analysis makes clear that the clay derives from sources in the coastal area, while the Swifterbant area itself was a fresh water tidal environment. In the interpretation of the macro remains, it is as yet unclear to what extent local and extra-local sources of plant material are responsible for the composition of the assemblage; 2. To develop a series of palaeogeographical maps for the Swifterbant area on the basis of old and new palynological data and the incorporation of other sources of ecological information from animal remains (including shells) and plant remains (including diatoms, seeds/fruits and wood). The palynological analysis is based on two existing diagrams from the Swifterbant area and two diagrams from some 10 km distance. New data may be collected at parcel H46, a peat section near one of the river dune sites and in the excavation trenches. The last type of samples is to be used to gain more insight in local vegetation during occupation. The maps should envisage the natural environment during the Mesolithic and Neolithic leading to more insight in the origin of raw material (local exploitation versus import). The inclusion of wood/charcoal analysis in the research depends on the time involved and the experience of the candidate; 3. To contribute to the discussion on the temporal relation between graves and settlements. A characteristic of the burials from the Swifterbant culture is that they are exclusively found on settlement sites. As a result of ^14 C dating problems (reservoir effect), it is unclear whether this means that burials took place during the period of occupation or whether the spatial correlation simply results from the fact that settlement sites are much easier to detect. The analysis of a series of ^14 C dates on soil directly below the burials might indicate what the temporal relation between burials and settlement is. References: Casparie, W.A., B. Mook‑Kamps, R.M. Palfenier‑Vegter, P.C. Struijk & W. van Zeist, 1977. The Palaeobotany of Swifterbant. A preliminary report (Swifterbant Contribution 7), /Helinium/ 17, 28‑55. Raemaekers, D.C.M., 1999: /The Articulation of a ‘New Neolithic’. The meaning of the Swifterbant Culture for the process of Neolithisation in the western part of the North European Plain/, Proefschrift Universiteit Leiden/ /(Archaeological Series Leiden University 3). Van Zeist, W. & R.M. Palfenier‑Vegter, 1981. Seeds and fruits from the Swifterbant S3 site. Final reports on Swifterbant IV, /Palaeohistoria/ 23, 105-168. *More information* More information on the GIA and its research are to be found at http://www.rug.nl/let/onderzoek/onderzoekinstituten/gia/index Informal enquiries should be made to the project supervisors: * Dr. R.T.J. Cappers (archaeobotany): +31 50 363 6741; [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> * Prof.dr. D.C.M. Raemaekers (archaeology): +31 50 363 6723; [log in to unmask] The closing date for applications is March 31^th 2005. Letters of application should be sent to D.C.M. Raemaekers, University of Groningen, Groningen Institute of Archaeology, Poststraat 6, 9712 ER Groningen, the Netherlands. Letters should include a short /curriculum vitae/.