Rats and the Archaeology of Trade, Urbanism and Disease in past European Societies

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Archaeology

Abstract

The black and brown rat are among the most globally successful commensal species, and the most significant for European history. Each has spread far beyond its native range in Asia by colonising niches around human settlements, likely reaching Europe in the Iron Age and 18th C respectively. The resulting association with shifting patterns of settlements and trade makes rats potentially valuable proxies for human history-if this anthrodependency can be understood. At the same time, rats have profound impacts on human societies as food pests and agents of disease, most notoriously-if controversially-implicated in historic plague pandemics including the 14th C Black Death. RATTUS aims to chart the history of rats in Europe from late prehistoric origins to the 19th C. While fundamentally archaeological, the project also draws on genetics, textual sources, and ecological modelling to move beyond documentation of dispersal history and build an understanding of underlying processes. How has human history shaped the distribution and ecology of rats over the past 2500 years? What in turn can rat remains tell us about key debates in human history, such as the post-Roman reconfiguration of economic and settlement systems and the emergence of medieval towns and trade? And what roles can rats really have played in the First and Second Plague Pandemics? Despite a recent revolution in plague history bringing unprecedented detail on the evolution and geographic spread of the bacterium itself, knowledge of the rodent populations most widely blamed for its transmission remains superficial, holding back understanding. Addressing these issues in detail has only recently become feasible thanks to advances in bioarchaeological methods: a single rat bone can now reveal taxonomic ID, genetic affinity, disease, diet, and date. The time is thus ripe for a systematic effort to unlock the potential of these most fascinating and significant of rodents as a source for-and factor in-human history

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Radiocarbon agreement - Vienna 
Organisation University of Vienna
Country Austria 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This is an agreement to provide radiocarbon dating services for our project. As such, out contribution is the provision of the samples, associated contextual data, and funds.
Collaborator Contribution Radiocarbon dating and associated IRMS analysis of rat bones; assistance with interpretation (e.g. consideration of reservoir effects) as appropriate.
Impact Pending.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Research collaboration with Institute of Archaeology, Prague 
Organisation Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
Country Czech Republic 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Provision of ZooMS identifications and radiocarbon dates on rat specimens from Czech Republic; inclusion of samples in wider research.
Collaborator Contribution Provision of samples and associated contextual information; intellectual input to sample design and to interpretation.
Impact Pending.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Research collaboration with National Museum of Natural History, Paris 
Organisation National Museum of Natural History
Country France 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Inclusion of relevant specimens from MNHM in wider research; zooarchaeological analysis of partially studied microfauna; provision of ZooMS identifications and radiocarbon dates (pending).
Collaborator Contribution Provisional of samples and associated contextual information; assistance with locating and accessing other French material; intellectual input to sample design to interpretation; role of Dr. Thomas Cucchi on project advisory board.
Impact Pending.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Research collaboration with Trent University 
Organisation Trent University
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This is a core collaboration with Dr. Eric Guiry, an expert on stable isotope analysis of specimens including rats. As such, our contributions are (a) providing funds to cover Trent's direct costs, (b) providing the wider research context into which Dr. Guiry's work with us fits, and (c) hosting a postdoctoral researcher in York to undertake the laboratory aspect of the stable isotope research, under Dr. Guiry's remote supervision and that of our own specialist, Dr. Michelle Alexander.
Collaborator Contribution Dr. Eric Guiry at Trent is providing specialist expertise on stable isotope analysis of rat bones, including adjustments laboratory protocols, data analysis procedures, and interpretation. He is also assisting with access to relevant sample material from Canada and the USA, both for stable isotopes and for other analyses within the wider project.
Impact Pending.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Interview for TV documentary 'The Black Death' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed by Dan Snow in the black rat enclosure at Wildwood Trust on the debate over the role of rats in the transmission of plague in general and the Black Death in particular. This resulted in a 1.5m segment within the first episode of the two-part series The Black Death, broadcast on 08/03/2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.channel5.com/show/the-black-death/season-1/the-black-death-bring-out-your-dead