Annie Bones

Research project

High-resolution dietary reconstructions using compound-specific isotope analysis

Supervisors: Prof. Oliver Craig and Dr. Andre Carlo Colonese

Funding: ERC SEACHANGE Synergy Project

Summary of research project:

This project seeks to investigate changes in diet across Southern Brazil prior to, and as a result of western colonial influence, using amino acid (AA) compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) on the remains of humans and baseline food sources across a number of sites. This technique involves measuring the carbon and nitrogen isotopes of individual amino acids and can provide greater dietary resolution compared with measurements from bulk collagen. Primarily, this project aims to reconstruct ecological food webs, and to investigate the impact of cultural transitions to human diet on the marine environment.

Profile

Annie previously completed both her MSc and BSc at the University of York, where she researched marine resource exploitation by Iron Age humans at Orkney using compound specific isotope analysis and bulk stable isotope analysis. Her PhD research builds on her interest in human diet and the marine environment, and aims to provide greater dietary resolution for southern Brazilian coastal populations prior to, and as a result of colonial influences. She will analyse carbon and nitrogen isotopes from individual amino acids (CSIA) extracted from human and faunal remains in order to reconstruct food webs, and to investigate the impact of cultural transitions to human diet on the marine environment.

Publications and Academic Awards

Publications:
Martinoia, V, Craig, OE, Charlton, S, Britton, K, Sheridan, A, Bones, A, Talbot, H, MacDonald, R and Richards, M (forthcoming) High-resolution compound-specific δ
15N isotope dietary study of humans from the Scottish Mesolithic and Neolithic.

Academic Awards:
Prize for the highest dissertation mark on the MSc Bioarchaeology programme, 2024. Awarded by the University of York.

Prize for Undergraduate Achievement in Maritime History, 2023. Awarded by the British Commission for Maritime History.