Current Research Postgraduates
Miss Ophelie Lebrasseur
(email at o.m.m.lebrasseur@durham.ac.uk)
Research Topic
Reconsidering Austronesian Homeland and dispersal models using genetic signatures of dogs and chickens.
Abstract
The dispersal of Austronesian farming communities from mainland East Asia into Island Southeast Asia and Oceania dates back to 5000 years ago. The geographical origin and dispersal route of this Austronesian Migration remain however unclear. While the archaeological record and modern linguistic studies argue for an ‘Out-of-Taiwan’ hypothesis (migration from Taiwan to western remote Oceania through the Philippines and Wallacea), genetic studies and tooth shape analysis conducted on domesticated pigs suggest a migration through the Malay Peninsula, the southern Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. These observations have led to the conclusion that a single mainland Asian source for the dispersal of the Austronesian farming communities is unlikely and that the Austronesian Migration probably consisted of several dispersals through different routes. Using dogs and chickens as proxies for population movement, my research aims to further understand the initial dispersals from mainland East Asia and the subsequent human migrations into remote Oceania through ancient and modern DNA.
Part of my research also focus on understanding the possible ancient phylogenic structure of dogs in Southeast Asia and in other parts of the world.
My research also looks into the 'Ghost Ant' and its dispersal pattern through human migrations.
Is supervised by
Publications
Conference papers
- Lebrasseur, Ophelie (2010), Les ossements animaux du site de la Porte de Rouen, Harfleur (Seine-Maritime) - Resultats preliminaires de l'etude de la faune et conclusions relatives a l'alimentation et l'economie des XVeme et XVIeme siecles, Journees Archeologiques de Haute-Normandie. Harfleur, Publications des universites de Rouen et du Havre, 165-176.
Journal papers: academic
- Millard, A, Jimenez-Cano, N.G., Lebrasseur, O. & Sakai, Y. (2011). Isotopic Investigation of Animal Husbandry in the Welsh and English Periods at Dryslwyn Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology n/a.
Research Groups
Department of Archaeology
- Bioarchaeology Research Group
