Missions

As part of the Fyssen foundation research project ERANKUTI and alongside the various members of the programme, the recruited agent will be responsible for the archaeozoological and isotopic component, aiming at detecting the possible existence of transhumance practices and/or diversity in livestock movements in the 16th century's Mexican Highlands.

Activities

- Identify and select teeth for isotopic analyses
- Establish dental wear profiles, estimate the age at death of individuals and develop mortality profiles to evaluate breeding outcomes
- Perform isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) by laser ablation of dental tissues (LA-ICP-MS) as well as chemical pre-treatment and sequential isotopic analysis of oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) rations in dental enamel (IRMS).
- Prepare bone and plant reference samples for isotope analyses.
- Communicate and collaborate with spectroscopy platforms for isotope measurement of the samples.
- Process, analyse and interpret isotope data in consultation with the research team.
- Take part in national and international meetings to present the results of the project

Skills

Knowledge:
- Extensive experience in European pastoral archaeozoology
- Expertise in isotope biogeochemestry
- Expertise in serial analysis of ruminant teeth
- Knowledge of the history and archaeology of transhumance, particularly in regard to altitudinal variations, would be an advantage
Skills
- Autonomy required in sample selection and preparation
- Adaptability to different working environments
- Good English level (spoken and written)
- Knowledge of Spanish appreciated
Interpersonal skills
- Teamwork

Work Context

The UMR 8096 Archéologie des Amériques (ArchAm) is a joint laboratory between the CNRS, the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, the ministery of culture and INRAP, based in Paris, with historial expertise on the archaeology of the American continent.
The recruited agent will contribute to the diversification of the laboratory competences, in particular for biochemical analyses. A convention will be established with the platform BOOST (Biochimie-Microscopie-Sédimentologie en Archéométrie) of the Laboratoire Méditerranéen de Préhistoire Europe Afrique (LAMPEA, UMR 7269), to host the agent to perform the chemical pre-treatments.
Full time, remote working subject to CNRS conditions.

Constraints and risks

Regular travel between Paris and Aix-en-Provence will be required. A sampling mission to Mexico (Michoacán) is planned, subject to FSD autorization.