Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Reconstructing Social Networks in Uncertain Enviornments using Archaeological Ceramics

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This project will support the Thesis research of CoPI Gjesfjeld, which is a systematic examination of ceramic use and social organization in the Kuril Islands. The CoPI proposes to utilize a quantitative network modeling approach to understand social organization via material remains, specifically ceramic sherds. Network models will be created based on geochemical sourcing of the ceramics and these models will potentially provide insights into social movement of ceramics in the prehistoric past. The CoPI has completed significant preliminary work on the ceramic sourcing and has obtained agreements from the Russian and Japanese institutions to analyze the materials. This project will contribute to a broader understanding of early social organization in the North Pacific and specifically in island environments.