Kerstin Lidén - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kerstin Lidén

Current Swedish archaeology, Feb 24, 2024

Although archaeology during the past decade has increasingly focussed on the effects of climate c... more Although archaeology during the past decade has increasingly focussed on the effects of climate change on prehistoric populations, there are few studies, if any, that have offered a high enough resolution in time and space to actually allow discussion of its societal effects. The main purpose of the 'Crisis, Conflict and Climate' programme is to provide this, by investigating a period of climate change, conflict and crisis in Scandinavia, 300-700 CE. With this programme, there will for the first time be a coherent investigation of demographics, disease, climate and environment, politics and social change in one, very well-defined, geographical region in northern Europe, the island of Öland situated off the southeast Swedish coast, in the Baltic Sea. We will study one of the more prominent features of the Ölandic societies during this time, the ringforts, producing high-resolution dates of their different utilization phases and clarifying their function and societal role. This eight-year programme (2023-2030), which is generously funded (43 million SEK) by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Sw. Riksbankens Jubileumsfond), is a collaboration between Stockholm University, Linnaeus University and Kalmar County Museum, with professor Kerstin Lidén at Stockholm University as Principal Investigator.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Aug 1, 2022

were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and terrestrial and marine isotopi... more were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and terrestrial and marine isotopic end-values for the site were established. The various stages that the Baltic Sea has passed through entail varying salinity, and although the correlation between salinity and 13 C is not strictly linear, there is a close correspondence between increasing salinity and increasing 13 C values. Accordingly we used the 13 C values for marine organisms, in this case grey seals, as indicators of the prevailing Baltic Sea stage. The Skateholm I and II settlements coincided with the early Littorina stage of the Baltic-in other words, marine conditions were brackish but not as saline as later on, during the Littorina maximum. The faunal measurements also provide a valuable background for the interpretation of human stable isotope data.

META – Historiskarkeologisk tidskrift, Mar 1, 2021

Genetic revolutions and northern survival during the last glacial maximum in European brown bears

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2020

Among Indigenous populations of the Arctic, domestic dogs (Canislupus familiaris) were social act... more Among Indigenous populations of the Arctic, domestic dogs (Canislupus familiaris) were social actors aiding in traction and subsistence activities. Less commonly, dogs fulfilled a fur-bearing role in both the North American and Siberian Arctic. Examples of garments featuring dog skins were collected during the 19th-20th centuries and are now curated by the National Museum of Denmark. We sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of macroscopically identified dog skin garments. We conducted stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis of the dog furs and of fur samples from contemporaneous pelts of Arctic (C. lupus arctos) and grey (C. lupus) wolves. Despite the presence of biocides used to protect the fur clothing during storage, we extracted well-preserved DNA using a minimally-invasive sampling protocol. Unexpectedly, the mtDNA genomes of one-third of the samples were consistent with wild taxa, rather than domestic dogs. The strong marine component in the diets of North American dogs distinguished them from Greenland and Canadian wolves, but Siberian dogs consumed diets that were isotopically similar to wild species. We found that dog provisioning practices were variable across the Siberian and North American Arctic, but in all cases, involved considerable human labor.

Arctic, 2020

The silver mine of Nasafjall and the smeltery site in Silbojokk in Swedish Sapmi were established... more The silver mine of Nasafjall and the smeltery site in Silbojokk in Swedish Sapmi were established in 1635 and was used during several phases until the late 19th century. Excavations in Silbojokk, c ...

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2011

The objective of this investigation is to look at the use of various aquatic, in this case marine... more The objective of this investigation is to look at the use of various aquatic, in this case marine, resources in relation to mobility during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. On the island of Öland, in the Baltic Sea, different archaeological cultures are represented in the form of material culture and skeletal remains at three sites. We have analysed δ 34 S values in human remains representing 36 individuals, as well as faunal remains. We investigated intra-individual patterns of mobility from childhood to adulthood, primarily focusing on a passage grave. Taking into account previously published dietary data that demonstrate a wide range of dietary practices involving aquatic resources, we applied a model to estimate the contribution of δ 34 S from terrestrial protein, to separate mobility from dietary changes, thereby identifying individuals who changed residence, as well as individuals with non-local origins. Evidence of mobility could be demonstrated at two sites. For the third site the consistently marine diet inhibits inferences on mobility based on δ 34 S analysis. Chronologically, the frequency of non-locals was highest during the Bronze Age, when the diet was very uniform and based on terrestrial resources.

This is a study of prehistoric diet transitions within the Baltic area during the Stone Age. More... more This is a study of prehistoric diet transitions within the Baltic area during the Stone Age. More specific the changes in diet expected to be found when hunter-gatherer subsistence is changed into ...

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, Jun 26, 2018

Rationale: Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in modern-day marine environments are consider... more Rationale: Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in modern-day marine environments are considered to be homogeneous (~0.7092). However, in the Baltic Sea, the Sr ratios are controlled by mixing seawater and continental drainage from major rivers discharging into the Baltic. This pilot study explores if variations in Sr can be detected in marine mammals from archaeological sites in the Baltic Sea. Methods: 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios were measured in tooth enamel from three seal species by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). The method enables micro-sampling of solid materials. This is the first time that the method has been applied to marine samples from archaeological collections. Results: The analyses showed inter-tooth 87 Sr/ 86 Sr variation suggesting that different ratios can be detected in different regions of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the intra-tooth variation suggests possible different geographic origin or seasonal movement of seals within different regions in the Baltic Sea through their lifetime. Conclusions: The method was successfully applied to archaeological marine samples showing that: (1) the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio in marine environments is not uniform, (2) 87 Sr/ 86 Sr differences might reflect differences in ecology and life history of different seal species, and (3) archaeological mobility studies based on 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in humans should therefore be evaluated together with diet reconstruction. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Journal of Archaeological Science, Mar 1, 1995

Two different collagen extraction methods were tested to compare their effects on the amino acid ... more Two different collagen extraction methods were tested to compare their effects on the amino acid composition and lipid content of the sample. Lipids were extracted from modern and archaeological bones at different steps in each of these collagen extraction procedures. A comparison was then made between the 13 C values of the lipid material and the lipid-and non-lipid-extracted collagen. The effect of NaOH treatment on the lipid content, the amino acid composition and carbon isotope analysis of bone collagen were also examined. It was concluded that NaOH is not sufficient to remove lipids from samples prior to carbon isotope analysis, so some other extraction procedure is required. Further, different collagen extraction protocols do result in varying amino acid composition of the end product, but this does not necessarily affect the overall 13 C.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Apr 21, 2016

Compound-specific amino acid carbon-isotope compositions have shown particular promise for elucid... more Compound-specific amino acid carbon-isotope compositions have shown particular promise for elucidating dietary behaviors in complex environmental contexts, and may also be able to mitigate the effect of many of the limitations inherent to palaeodietary reconstructions. Here, we investigate the efficacy of compound-specific amino acid isotopic proxies in characterizing the consumption of different dietary protein sources using amino acid carbon-isotope compositions for humans and fauna from Rössberga (Early to Middle Neolithic), Köpingsvik (Mesolithic and Middle Neolithic), and Visby (Medieval Period), Sweden. We also assess the explanatory capabilities of an isotopic mixing model when used with essential amino acid carbon-isotope compositions of humans and local fauna. All three isotopic proxies distinguished among humans from the three sites consistently and informatively, and were able to enhance the broad interpretations made using bulk isotopic compositions. The mixing model palaeodietary reconstruction revealed considerable diversity in relative protein source contributions among individuals at both Köpingsvik and Visby. Comparing the mixing model for bulk carbon-and nitrogen-isotope compositions to the model for essential amino acid isotopic compositions further demonstrated the likelihood of underestimation and overestimation of marine protein consumption for both aquatic-dominant and mixed marine-terrestrial diets when using bulk isotopic compositions.

Вестник Московского университета. Серия 23. Антропология, 2014

Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic... more Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic and Neolithic, although we still lack much basic knowledge on how the people lived. The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Europe has been described as a radical shift from an economy dominated by marine resources to one solely dependent on farming. Both the occurrence and the geographical extent of such a drastic shift can be questioned, however. It is therefore important to start out at a more detailed level of evidence in order to present the overall picture, and to account for the variability even in such regional or chronological overviews. Fifteen Stone Age sites were included in this study, ranging chronologically from the Early Mesolithic to the Middle or Late Neolithic, c. 8300–2500 BC, and stretching geographically from the westernmost coast of Sweden to the easternmost part of Latvia within the confines of latitudes 55–59° N. The most prominent sites in terms of the number of human and faunal samples analysed are Zvejnieki, Vasterbjers and Skateholm I–II. Human and faunal skeletal remains were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to study diet and ecology at the sites. Stable isotope analyses of human remains provide quantitative information on the relative importance of various food sources, an important addition to the qualitative data supplied by certain artefacts and structures or by faunal or botanical remains. A vast number of new radiocarbon dates were also obtained.In conclusion, a rich diversity in Stone Age dietary practice in the Baltic Region was demonstrated. Evidence ranging from the Early Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic show that neither chronology nor location alone can account for this variety, but that there are inevitably cultural factors as well. Food habits are culturally governed, and therefore we cannot automatically assume that people at similar sites will have the same diet. Stable isotope studies are very important here, since they tell us what people actually consumed, not only what was available, or what one single meal contained. We should not be deceived in inferring diet from ritually deposited remains, since things that were mentally important were not always important in daily life. Thus, although a ritual and symbolic norm may emphasize certain food categories, these may in fact contribute very little to the diet. By the progress of analysis of intra-individual variation, new data on life history changes have been produced, revealing mobility patterns, breastfeeding behaviour and certain dietary transitions. The inclusion of faunal data has proved invaluable for understanding the stable isotope ecology of a site, and thereby improve the precision of the interpretations of human stable isotope data. The special case of dogs, though, demonstrates that these animals are not useful for inferring human diet, since, due to the number of roles they possess in human society, dogs could deviate significantly from humans in their diet, and in several cases have been proved to do so. When evaluating radiocarbon data derived from human and animal remains from the Pitted-Ware site of Vasterbjers on Gotland, the importance of establishing the stable isotope ecology of the site before making deductions on reservoir effects was further demonstrated. The main aim of this thesis has been to demonstrate the variation and diversity in human practices, challenging the view of a “monolithic” Stone Age. By looking at individuals and not only at populations, the whole range of human behaviour has been accounted for, also revealing discrepancies between norm and practice, which are frequently visible both in the archaeological record and in present-day human behaviour.

Current Swedish archaeology, Feb 24, 2024

Although archaeology during the past decade has increasingly focussed on the effects of climate c... more Although archaeology during the past decade has increasingly focussed on the effects of climate change on prehistoric populations, there are few studies, if any, that have offered a high enough resolution in time and space to actually allow discussion of its societal effects. The main purpose of the 'Crisis, Conflict and Climate' programme is to provide this, by investigating a period of climate change, conflict and crisis in Scandinavia, 300-700 CE. With this programme, there will for the first time be a coherent investigation of demographics, disease, climate and environment, politics and social change in one, very well-defined, geographical region in northern Europe, the island of Öland situated off the southeast Swedish coast, in the Baltic Sea. We will study one of the more prominent features of the Ölandic societies during this time, the ringforts, producing high-resolution dates of their different utilization phases and clarifying their function and societal role. This eight-year programme (2023-2030), which is generously funded (43 million SEK) by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Sw. Riksbankens Jubileumsfond), is a collaboration between Stockholm University, Linnaeus University and Kalmar County Museum, with professor Kerstin Lidén at Stockholm University as Principal Investigator.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Aug 1, 2022

were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and terrestrial and marine isotopi... more were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and terrestrial and marine isotopic end-values for the site were established. The various stages that the Baltic Sea has passed through entail varying salinity, and although the correlation between salinity and 13 C is not strictly linear, there is a close correspondence between increasing salinity and increasing 13 C values. Accordingly we used the 13 C values for marine organisms, in this case grey seals, as indicators of the prevailing Baltic Sea stage. The Skateholm I and II settlements coincided with the early Littorina stage of the Baltic-in other words, marine conditions were brackish but not as saline as later on, during the Littorina maximum. The faunal measurements also provide a valuable background for the interpretation of human stable isotope data.

META – Historiskarkeologisk tidskrift, Mar 1, 2021

Genetic revolutions and northern survival during the last glacial maximum in European brown bears

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2020

Among Indigenous populations of the Arctic, domestic dogs (Canislupus familiaris) were social act... more Among Indigenous populations of the Arctic, domestic dogs (Canislupus familiaris) were social actors aiding in traction and subsistence activities. Less commonly, dogs fulfilled a fur-bearing role in both the North American and Siberian Arctic. Examples of garments featuring dog skins were collected during the 19th-20th centuries and are now curated by the National Museum of Denmark. We sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of macroscopically identified dog skin garments. We conducted stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis of the dog furs and of fur samples from contemporaneous pelts of Arctic (C. lupus arctos) and grey (C. lupus) wolves. Despite the presence of biocides used to protect the fur clothing during storage, we extracted well-preserved DNA using a minimally-invasive sampling protocol. Unexpectedly, the mtDNA genomes of one-third of the samples were consistent with wild taxa, rather than domestic dogs. The strong marine component in the diets of North American dogs distinguished them from Greenland and Canadian wolves, but Siberian dogs consumed diets that were isotopically similar to wild species. We found that dog provisioning practices were variable across the Siberian and North American Arctic, but in all cases, involved considerable human labor.

Arctic, 2020

The silver mine of Nasafjall and the smeltery site in Silbojokk in Swedish Sapmi were established... more The silver mine of Nasafjall and the smeltery site in Silbojokk in Swedish Sapmi were established in 1635 and was used during several phases until the late 19th century. Excavations in Silbojokk, c ...

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2011

The objective of this investigation is to look at the use of various aquatic, in this case marine... more The objective of this investigation is to look at the use of various aquatic, in this case marine, resources in relation to mobility during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. On the island of Öland, in the Baltic Sea, different archaeological cultures are represented in the form of material culture and skeletal remains at three sites. We have analysed δ 34 S values in human remains representing 36 individuals, as well as faunal remains. We investigated intra-individual patterns of mobility from childhood to adulthood, primarily focusing on a passage grave. Taking into account previously published dietary data that demonstrate a wide range of dietary practices involving aquatic resources, we applied a model to estimate the contribution of δ 34 S from terrestrial protein, to separate mobility from dietary changes, thereby identifying individuals who changed residence, as well as individuals with non-local origins. Evidence of mobility could be demonstrated at two sites. For the third site the consistently marine diet inhibits inferences on mobility based on δ 34 S analysis. Chronologically, the frequency of non-locals was highest during the Bronze Age, when the diet was very uniform and based on terrestrial resources.

This is a study of prehistoric diet transitions within the Baltic area during the Stone Age. More... more This is a study of prehistoric diet transitions within the Baltic area during the Stone Age. More specific the changes in diet expected to be found when hunter-gatherer subsistence is changed into ...

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, Jun 26, 2018

Rationale: Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in modern-day marine environments are consider... more Rationale: Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in modern-day marine environments are considered to be homogeneous (~0.7092). However, in the Baltic Sea, the Sr ratios are controlled by mixing seawater and continental drainage from major rivers discharging into the Baltic. This pilot study explores if variations in Sr can be detected in marine mammals from archaeological sites in the Baltic Sea. Methods: 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios were measured in tooth enamel from three seal species by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). The method enables micro-sampling of solid materials. This is the first time that the method has been applied to marine samples from archaeological collections. Results: The analyses showed inter-tooth 87 Sr/ 86 Sr variation suggesting that different ratios can be detected in different regions of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the intra-tooth variation suggests possible different geographic origin or seasonal movement of seals within different regions in the Baltic Sea through their lifetime. Conclusions: The method was successfully applied to archaeological marine samples showing that: (1) the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio in marine environments is not uniform, (2) 87 Sr/ 86 Sr differences might reflect differences in ecology and life history of different seal species, and (3) archaeological mobility studies based on 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in humans should therefore be evaluated together with diet reconstruction. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Journal of Archaeological Science, Mar 1, 1995

Two different collagen extraction methods were tested to compare their effects on the amino acid ... more Two different collagen extraction methods were tested to compare their effects on the amino acid composition and lipid content of the sample. Lipids were extracted from modern and archaeological bones at different steps in each of these collagen extraction procedures. A comparison was then made between the 13 C values of the lipid material and the lipid-and non-lipid-extracted collagen. The effect of NaOH treatment on the lipid content, the amino acid composition and carbon isotope analysis of bone collagen were also examined. It was concluded that NaOH is not sufficient to remove lipids from samples prior to carbon isotope analysis, so some other extraction procedure is required. Further, different collagen extraction protocols do result in varying amino acid composition of the end product, but this does not necessarily affect the overall 13 C.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Apr 21, 2016

Compound-specific amino acid carbon-isotope compositions have shown particular promise for elucid... more Compound-specific amino acid carbon-isotope compositions have shown particular promise for elucidating dietary behaviors in complex environmental contexts, and may also be able to mitigate the effect of many of the limitations inherent to palaeodietary reconstructions. Here, we investigate the efficacy of compound-specific amino acid isotopic proxies in characterizing the consumption of different dietary protein sources using amino acid carbon-isotope compositions for humans and fauna from Rössberga (Early to Middle Neolithic), Köpingsvik (Mesolithic and Middle Neolithic), and Visby (Medieval Period), Sweden. We also assess the explanatory capabilities of an isotopic mixing model when used with essential amino acid carbon-isotope compositions of humans and local fauna. All three isotopic proxies distinguished among humans from the three sites consistently and informatively, and were able to enhance the broad interpretations made using bulk isotopic compositions. The mixing model palaeodietary reconstruction revealed considerable diversity in relative protein source contributions among individuals at both Köpingsvik and Visby. Comparing the mixing model for bulk carbon-and nitrogen-isotope compositions to the model for essential amino acid isotopic compositions further demonstrated the likelihood of underestimation and overestimation of marine protein consumption for both aquatic-dominant and mixed marine-terrestrial diets when using bulk isotopic compositions.

Вестник Московского университета. Серия 23. Антропология, 2014

Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic... more Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic and Neolithic, although we still lack much basic knowledge on how the people lived. The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Europe has been described as a radical shift from an economy dominated by marine resources to one solely dependent on farming. Both the occurrence and the geographical extent of such a drastic shift can be questioned, however. It is therefore important to start out at a more detailed level of evidence in order to present the overall picture, and to account for the variability even in such regional or chronological overviews. Fifteen Stone Age sites were included in this study, ranging chronologically from the Early Mesolithic to the Middle or Late Neolithic, c. 8300–2500 BC, and stretching geographically from the westernmost coast of Sweden to the easternmost part of Latvia within the confines of latitudes 55–59° N. The most prominent sites in terms of the number of human and faunal samples analysed are Zvejnieki, Vasterbjers and Skateholm I–II. Human and faunal skeletal remains were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to study diet and ecology at the sites. Stable isotope analyses of human remains provide quantitative information on the relative importance of various food sources, an important addition to the qualitative data supplied by certain artefacts and structures or by faunal or botanical remains. A vast number of new radiocarbon dates were also obtained.In conclusion, a rich diversity in Stone Age dietary practice in the Baltic Region was demonstrated. Evidence ranging from the Early Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic show that neither chronology nor location alone can account for this variety, but that there are inevitably cultural factors as well. Food habits are culturally governed, and therefore we cannot automatically assume that people at similar sites will have the same diet. Stable isotope studies are very important here, since they tell us what people actually consumed, not only what was available, or what one single meal contained. We should not be deceived in inferring diet from ritually deposited remains, since things that were mentally important were not always important in daily life. Thus, although a ritual and symbolic norm may emphasize certain food categories, these may in fact contribute very little to the diet. By the progress of analysis of intra-individual variation, new data on life history changes have been produced, revealing mobility patterns, breastfeeding behaviour and certain dietary transitions. The inclusion of faunal data has proved invaluable for understanding the stable isotope ecology of a site, and thereby improve the precision of the interpretations of human stable isotope data. The special case of dogs, though, demonstrates that these animals are not useful for inferring human diet, since, due to the number of roles they possess in human society, dogs could deviate significantly from humans in their diet, and in several cases have been proved to do so. When evaluating radiocarbon data derived from human and animal remains from the Pitted-Ware site of Vasterbjers on Gotland, the importance of establishing the stable isotope ecology of the site before making deductions on reservoir effects was further demonstrated. The main aim of this thesis has been to demonstrate the variation and diversity in human practices, challenging the view of a “monolithic” Stone Age. By looking at individuals and not only at populations, the whole range of human behaviour has been accounted for, also revealing discrepancies between norm and practice, which are frequently visible both in the archaeological record and in present-day human behaviour.

When prehistoric ceramic vessels were used they may have absorbed lipids from the food processed ... more When prehistoric ceramic vessels were used they may have absorbed lipids from the food processed in them. These lipids have changed both during use and during the time in deposition, being transformed into the lipid residues we find. The lipid residues are released through solvent extraction and then analysed for lipid biomarker distributions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, providing evidence for pottery-use.

ArchéoSciences. Revue d' …, Jan 1, 2009

Mémoire du sol, Espace des hommes, Jan 1, 2009