The environment and early farming

Project No.: lzp-2022/1-0300
Implementation period: 1 February 2023 – 31 January 2026
Project costs: EUR 300 000
Principal investigator: Dr. hist. Gunita Zariņa

The settlement of Abora in the Lake Lubāns wetland has been inhabited for about a thousand years (~3000-2000 BC) and is a very suitable archaeological site for the study of the development of the production economy in the territory of Latvia. The settlement is distinguished by a rich material of archaeological artefacts and environmental samples, as well as by the burials of people from the period of the settlement. The settlement therefore provides material for acquisition and interpretation of new data. The aim of the project is to study in detail the geomorphology of the Abora settlement, to carry out sediment composition, palaeobotanical and pollen analysis, as well as archaeozoological material assessment and 14C carbon dating in order to clarify the date of the beginning of early farming. The reconstruction of subsistence strategies will use stable isotope analyses of chemical elements (δ15N and δ13C) for bone collagen and teeth dentin, as well as organic residue analyses of ceramics, to clarify the use of vessels. Petrographic studies of ceramics will be carried out. The project will provide new data on human-environment interactions in Latvia in the Late Neolithic, changes in the local natural environment and in the subsistence strategies of the population, and clarify the origins of early farming. The project will address the lack of modern data on the origins of agriculture in Latvia in the Baltic and Northern European context. Clarifying of these issues is important for Latvian and European archaeologists, students, Latvian history teachers. They are necessary for the development of museum exhibitions, for the improvement of school and university curricula, for the municipalities of the Lake Lubāna districts and their tourism industry, and for the Latvian society at large. 

Planned project results:

1) The project aims to study in detail the palaeo-geographical situation of the Neolithic settlement of Abora, the possible origins of early farming and, by radiocarbon dating, to pinpoint the time when the first livestock appeared and agricultural features developed.

2) The project will produce 7 high quality peer-reviewed research publications, two Master's theses and one PhD thesis. The results of the project will be presented at 8 international scientific conferences.

3) During the project implementation, cooperation with the Latvian National History Museum, Madona Museum - in the development of new expositions, with Lubāna Municipality, Lubāna Tourism and Cultural Heritage Centre - in the development of new tourism guides. The results of the project will be presented in popular science publications, on radio and television, and at public education seminars.

Scientific group: project manager Dr. hist. Dr. Gunita Zariņa; researchers: Dr. geogr. Laimdota Kalniņa, Mg. geol. Prof. Aija Ceriņa, PhD Vanda Visocka, Bc. geogr. Elīna Reire, Bc. hist. Anna Batraga, Mg. hist. Eduards Plankājs.