History and Archaeology

The leading cause of death in the past year was dementia (*). But how was that in the nineteenth and early twentieth century? Researchers at Radboud University, the University of Groningen and Leiden University started a project to uncover this by digitalizing written doctors notes. The data generated by the project is available to everyone and can be used - for example - in research into epidemics. Dr Mayra Murkens from the Faculty of Arts is involved in the project.

Ancient DNA analysis of bones, teeth, or plants can reveal family connections, population movements, and domestication pathways. Pınar Erdil tells more about it.

Recent research shows that the Norsemen were also looking for valuable walrus ivory.

Historians Dr Anjana Singh and Bram Tánczos, both from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, along with Lieuwe Jongsma, curator of the Groninger Museum, conducted research into the history of slavery of the city of Groningen on behalf of the Groningen City Council.

Sixteen thousand years ago, people already made art for their enjoyment, had advanced technologies, cared for one another, and adored their dogs, who they kept as their companions. ‘They were civilized human beings like you and me,’ says Inanna Hamati-Ataya, Professor of Global International Relations at the Faculty of Arts.

Assistant professor Yuliya Hilevych from the Faculty of Arts researches regional depopulation in the Netherlands, Finland, and Ukraine by placing the phenomenon in a social-historical perspective.

Professor of Health and Humanities Rina Knoeff and assistant professor of Cultural Heritage, Identity, and Early Modern History Karen Hollewand make a case for gender health equality between men and women in medical sciences. ‘I believe we need to add some nuance to the huge tirades against the patriarchal society.’

A video about the seed, fruit and plantcollection of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology

Professor of Landscape History Theo Spek delves into the stories that are hidden behind Dutch and European landscapes. He is the only professor in this field, so his expertise – and that of his colleagues and students – is in high demand.

As a result of climate change and increasing disruption of their habitats, the already endangered Atlantic walrus is more vulnerable than ever. PhD candidate Emily Ruiz Puerta and her fellow researchers call for better protection of walruses and other endangered species in Arctic seas.

For approximately 3,000 years, generations of green sea turtles have returned to the same seagrass meadows to eat. Research by historical ecologist Willemien de Kock highlights the importance of protecting seagrass meadows along the coasts of North Africa.

How was Groningen involved in slavery? Who profited from the trade in enslaved people? Was the city of Groningen involved in slavery and the slave trade, and did the city benefit from investments in the VOC and the WIC? Historians Anjana Singh, Bram Tánczos, and Lieuwe Jongsma have been researching this.

For archeologist Sean Desjardins, camping in Arctic Canada is heaven on earth. Since 2010 he has travelled annually to Foxe Basin, home to the Inuit community with whom he has worked for years. He researches their traditions and customs and how they have evolved over the centuries.

During the Second World War, more Jewish residents of five municipalities in the province of Groningen were killed than previously had been estimated. This is the conclusion of research conducted by Richard Paping, a historian at the University of Groningen. It was previously thought that 15% of the Jewish residents of these municipalities survived the war. However, it now appears that less than 10% survived. The contrast with the national survival rate of 27-29% is therefore much larger than previously estimated.

Archaeologists Willemien de Kock and Jolijn Erven delve into the field of paleogenetics in their research, the field to which physician, biologist and Nobel Prize winner Svante Pääbo has contributed significantly over the past 35 years.

Prof. Sabrina Corbellini conducts research into the history of reading in premodern Europe. Her research disproves persistent prejudices about the ‘dark’, ‘undeveloped’ Middle Ages. ‘The ability to read is essential to the functioning of society. This was the case in the Middle Ages, just as it is today.’ Being able to read means being able to develop a critical attitude and to form your own opinion. These qualities are —unjustly—not associated much with the Middle Ages. Corbellini sees it as a challenge to disprove the persistent prejudices about the time period of her study.

American writer and journalist John Farrell has unearthed new evidence in his biographical research into the life and work of Ted Kennedy, showing that the American politician initially tried to cover up his involvement in the fatal automobile accident he caused in 1969. Farrell was able to draw on the diaries of Kennedy, his advisor Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and other previously unpublished sources. Farrell hopes to receive his PhD on 15 September from the University of Groningen.

Historian Joop Koopmans studies the role and influence of media in the early modern period. For example, how did newspapers, cartoons, and pamphlets in the ‘Disaster Year’ of 1672 report on ‘Bommen Berend’? To mark the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the Siege of Groningen and subsequent relief (Gronings Ontzet), Koopmans will hold a public lecture on this topic during the Alumni Day.

Maarten Loonen leads new polar expedition with scientists, journalists, policymakers and tourists.

Prehistoric wild boars primarily ate plants, research by zooarchaeologist Nathalie Brusgaard has reveals. She is the first person in the Netherlands to have identified the diet of the wild boar by examining the chemical composition of its bones.

These days, you can tweet your frustrations about other people's ideas with a few vicious taps on your keyboar and send it out into the world. These frustrations were already there in the sixteenth century. The Twitter of that time: the margin of books.