Ricaut, Cox, Lacan et al. (2012) provide an analysis of prehistoric DNA on a Europe-wide scale that reveals aspects of both continuity and change. Your task in this essay is to situate the results of the two aDNA/isotope population analysis articles we critiqued in class (Cassidy, Martiniano, Murphy et al. 2016 – this is solely aDNA) and (Knipper, Mittnik, Masey et al. 2017 – this is both aDNA & isotopes) in the wider European context provided by Ricaut, Cox, Lacan et al. (2012). In other words, how do the more regional studies of Cassidy et al. (Ireland) and Knipper et al. (central Europe) agree with, or contrast with, the wider European patterns provided by Ricaut et al.?
The Ricaut, Cox, Lacan et al. (2012) article has been added to the Theme 4 folder on Blackboard. If you want to, you can bring in additional sources as well (properly cited and included in your bibliography).
Note: as with our other readings in this theme, you do not need to get bogged down in the technical details of the methods employed in the Ricaut et al. study. This is a very short article and if you concentrate on the sections other than the ‘Methods’ section, you can grasp its findings readily.
