The thesis will focus on examining the factors (e.g. dietary practices, mobility patterns, environmental influences) that have shaped isotopic variations in human populations over time in the central European region, with a particular emphasis on providing a comprehensive overview of the present-day lands of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. From a methodological perspective, this thesis will exclusively involve a database mining approach as the data were already compiled and released in IsoArcH (www.isoarch.org). The thesis will prioritize gaining a deeper understanding of the intricacies of isotope research. However, the student will still receive valuable hands-on experience in laboratory-based techniques at the Isotope Lab of the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, as mandatory training.

The tasks to be undertaken are as follows:
1. Familiarize yourself with the literature from which the compiled data is derived.
2. Collaborate closely with the supervisor to design and write a brief data article presenting the dataset, with the potential goal of submitting it within the thesis timeframe.
3. Gain experience in isotope chemistry through practical training. 
4. Utilizing statistical techniques for the examination of isotopic data, taking into account a range of factors, encompassing biological variables, archaeological elements, environmental contexts, and chronological aspects.
5. Offering a comprehensive synthesis elucidating the underlying factors influencing the observed isotopic patterns and outcomes within the framework of dietary practices, patterns of movement, and the interplay between human communities and their surroundings.

The manuscript and defense must be in English.

To be awarded credit for the first semester (course Bi4502 Bachelor Thesis I) the above-stated tasks 1 and 2 need to be accomplished, and to be awarded credit for the second semester (course Bi6100 Bachelor Thesis II) the above-stated tasks 3 and 4 need to be accomplished, therefore, to finish the thesis and hand it in for thesis defense in the IS Archive. The recommended extent of the thesis is 30-50 pages but can be exceeded if the thesis development requires it. However, the 30-page lower limit is the minimum that can be accepted. The thesis will exclude the explicit description of utilized material and methods, including in cases when the thesis is in the form of a literature review. The method/process description will clearly state the author’s contribution to the acquired results. The Czech version of the ISO 690 style will be the citation style. Appropriate tabular and graphical summarizing and instructive illustrations will form part of the thesis. The thesis will be handed in PDF format in the IS Archive and in print-bound form for defense and archiving purposes. In the formal and content aspects the valid MU legislation, Dean’s Measure on final these, and Department of Anthropology internal regulations must be met.