BrainMap

Andrei Dorian Soficaru

Dr.

- INSTITUTUL DE ANTROPOLOGIE ''FRANCISC I .RAINER''

Researcher

Web of Science ResearcherID: A-5943-2011

Expertise & keywords

REVEALING BUCHAREST’S PAST: AN INTEGRATIVE STUDY OF ANCIENT DNA AND OSTEOARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA OF LATE MEDIEVAL POPULATIONS Call name: Complex Exploratory Research Projects - PCCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCCE-2011-2-0013 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Francisc J. Rainer Institute of Anthropology–Romanian Academy

Project partners: Francisc J. Rainer Institute of Anthropology–Romanian Academy (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE CAROL DAVILA (RO)

Affiliation: Francisc J. Rainer Institute of Anthropology–Romanian Academy (RO)

Project website: http://www.bioarchaeology.ro

Abstract:

This project will undertake an extensive comparative study of the history of Bucharest viewed from the perspective of cross-population changes in genetic structure, health, quality of life, adaptation to the external stress factors and lifestyle evolution based on the analysis of the skeletons discovered in the recently excavated Piata Universitatii archaeological site, one of the biggest medieval cemeteries from Romania. The project will integrate archaeological and historical data with the precise anthropological and genetic results that can bring more objectivity to historical anthropology in a promising way to investigate and validate over four centuries of local history. The field of ancient DNA experience a new era after new technologies and methodological approaches became available and large-scale population genetic studies are now possible. When population history reconstruction is based strictly on the analysis of contemporary human DNA material rather than ancient DNA samples, significant information regarding replacement, admixture and local minor migration events could be lost. Ancient population studies may yield interesting results in cases where are indications from archaeology and history that a population demographic modification like depopulation or replacement has taken place and shaped the gene pools of contemporary populations. The impact of lethal epidemics, wars, religious and cultural changes in historical periods would significantly reduce the genetic diversity via bottleneck effect and fundamentally affected the development of populations. Interpreting potential genetic signature and osteoarchaeological data left by the effects of such phenomena on population is important because may aid in the reconstruction of the real historical events which affected the Bucharest region during centuries.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects