The Migration Period (375 to 568 CE) of Central and Eastern Europe was a tumultuous time politically, culturally, and socially. Historical and archaeological evidence provide support for the large-scale movement of multiple tribes and groups, including the Gepids and Avars, although biogeochemical evidence for mobility is currently limited. Mobility has impacts on individual and group health, identity, and has socio-political implications for broader regions involved. As such, identifying the extent and scale of mobility within a given population can provide nuanced insights into multiple aspects of life and society in the past. To investigate models of mobility in a population during and immediately following the Migration Period, bulk stable isotope analysis of stable carbon and oxygen were conducted on skeletal remains of Gepidic and Avar Period individuals (n = 24) from the Hungarian site of Berettyóújfalu.
Paired tooth enamel and bone bioapatite samples were analyzed, in order to reconstruct both early and later life values. The results of these multi-isotope and multi-tissue analyses indicate that there are statistically significant differences between paired bone (later life) and tooth enamel (earlier life) bioapatite values, providing evidence for mobility across the life course. For example, the wider range in variation of tooth enamel samples could indicate that individuals originated from varied locations. Additionally, there is some tentative evidence that the females at the site may have been more mobile than the males, although further research is needed to corroborate this. Broadly, this research provides a meaningful contribution to the growing literature on isotopic variation and mobility in Gepidic and Avar Period communities, and thus creates a more nuanced image of life in Migration Period Hungary more generally.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
B.A. (Hons I), 2019, Australian National University
Committee in Charge:
Dr. J. Marla Toyne, Chair
Dr. John Schultz, Co-Chair
Dr. Sarah Freidline
Dr. Tamás Hajdu
Approved for distribution by Dr. J. Marla Toyne, Committee Chair, on 03/21/2023.
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