9320807 Williams With this planning grant from The National Science Foundation, Dr. Sloan Williams will develop models which will allow her to reconstruct forms of prehistoric social organization using DNA data obtained from the analysis of ancient bone. In the course of archaeological fieldwork in southern Peru, Dr. Williams and her collaborators have excavated a series of cemeteries which contain well preserved human skeletal remains. The graves also yielded numerous burial goods which provide information on the social and occupational status of the associated individuals. Using current biochemical techniques it is possible to extract and analyze DNA from these bones and with the data thus collected determine the degree of relatedness among individuals. On this basis it should be possible to reconstruct biological affinity and relate this to social and occupational organization. While the archaeological significance of this work is clear and the research is technically feasible, Dr. Williams must still develop analytic techniques which bridge the gap between data and question. This grant will provide her the time to accomplish this. The project is important for three reasons. It will help to develop an analytic technique of potential widespread use. It will pave the way for Dr. Williams to design a large scale effort. It will also facilitate the development of a promising young scientist. ***

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9320807
Program Officer
John E. Yellen
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1994-02-01
Budget End
1995-01-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
$5,884
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104