Project information
Tracing Moravian Celt mobility by strontium isotope analysis (TIMELY)

The proposed project examines the hidden secrets of the mobility of Celts from Central Europe through cutting-edge strontium isotope analysis of human remains. More precisely, the project aims at acquiring novel insights into the migration patterns of the Boii tribes during La Tene (LT) period (480/450-20 BCE), with a specific focus on their arrival in Moravia, Czech Republic, and their eventual replacement by Germanic tribes. This will be achieved through an in-depth investigation of four remarkable archaeological sites located in the region of interest: i.e., the Rousínov and Kralice na Hané burial sites from the early LT period (400-150 BCE), and the isolated graves of Seč and Dolany from the late LT period (150-20 BCE).
This study will break new grounds and marks the first isotopic investigation of the Celts in the Czech Republic, providing unprecedented insights into the life histories of the individuals under scrutiny (n = 46). Notably, this study will also be the first to examine populations from Czech lands with bi-ritual funerary practices involving both cremations and inhumations, adding a unique dimension to the research. Isotope analysis has not yet been conducted on cremated human remains in the country.
The outcomes of this study will not only benefit the isotope bioarchaeology community, but have broader implications for archaeology as a whole as the PI and his team will actively promote dialogues with LT specialists and facilitate inter-community knowledge transfer.