1
|
Morton-Hayward AL, Anderson RP, Saupe EE, Larson G, Cosmidis JG. Human brains preserve in diverse environments for at least 12 000 years. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232606. [PMID: 38503334 PMCID: PMC10950470 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain is thought to be among the first human organs to decompose after death. The discovery of brains preserved in the archaeological record is therefore regarded as unusual. Although mechanisms such as dehydration, freezing, saponification, and tanning are known to allow for the preservation of the brain on short time scales in association with other soft tissues (≲4000 years), discoveries of older brains, especially in the absence of other soft tissues, are rare. Here, we collated an archive of more than 4400 human brains preserved in the archaeological record across approximately 12 000 years, more than 1300 of which constitute the only soft tissue preserved amongst otherwise skeletonized remains. We found that brains of this type persist on time scales exceeding those preserved by other means, which suggests an unknown mechanism may be responsible for preservation particular to the central nervous system. The untapped archive of preserved ancient brains represents an opportunity for bioarchaeological studies of human evolution, health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Morton-Hayward
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ross P. Anderson
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- All Souls College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Erin E. Saupe
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Greger Larson
- Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rayfield KM, Mychajliw AM, Singleton RR, Sholts SB, Hofman CA. Uncovering the Holocene roots of contemporary disease-scapes: bringing archaeology into One Health. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230525. [PMID: 38052246 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The accelerating pace of emerging zoonotic diseases in the twenty-first century has motivated cross-disciplinary collaboration on One Health approaches, combining microbiology, veterinary and environmental sciences, and epidemiology for outbreak prevention and mitigation. Such outbreaks are often caused by spillovers attributed to human activities that encroach on wildlife habitats and ecosystems, such as land use change, industrialized food production, urbanization and animal trade. While the origin of anthropogenic effects on animal ecology and biogeography can be traced to the Late Pleistocene, the archaeological record-a long-term archive of human-animal-environmental interactions-has largely been untapped in these One Health approaches, thus limiting our understanding of these dynamics over time. In this review, we examine how humans, as niche constructors, have facilitated new host species and 'disease-scapes' from the Late Pleistocene to the Anthropocene, by viewing zooarchaeological, bioarchaeological and palaeoecological data with a One Health perspective. We also highlight how new biomolecular tools and advances in the '-omics' can be holistically coupled with archaeological and palaeoecological reconstructions in the service of studying zoonotic disease emergence and re-emergence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Rayfield
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alexis M Mychajliw
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biology & Program in Environmental Studies, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753-6203, USA
| | - Robin R Singleton
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
| | - Sabrina B Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Courtney A Hofman
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Coutu AN, Taurozzi AJ, Mackie M, Jensen TZT, Collins MJ, Sealy J. Palaeoproteomics confirm earliest domesticated sheep in southern Africa ca. 2000 BP. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6631. [PMID: 33758223 PMCID: PMC7988125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We used palaeoproteomics and peptide mass fingerprinting to obtain secure species identifications of key specimens of early domesticated fauna from South Africa, dating to ca. 2000 BP. It can be difficult to distinguish fragmentary remains of early domesticates (sheep) from similar-sized local wild bovids (grey duiker, grey rhebok, springbok-southern Africa lacks wild sheep) based on morphology alone. Our analysis revealed a Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) marker (m/z 1532) present in wild bovids and we demonstrate through LC-MS/MS that it is capable of discriminating between wild bovids and caprine domesticates. We confirm that the Spoegrivier specimen dated to 2105 ± 65 BP is indeed a sheep. This is the earliest directly dated evidence of domesticated animals in southern Africa. As well as the traditional method of analysing bone fragments, we show the utility of minimally destructive sampling methods such as PVC eraser and polishing films for successful ZooMS identification. We also show that collagen extracted more than 25 years ago for the purpose of radiocarbon dating can yield successful ZooMS identification. Our study demonstrates the importance of developing appropriate regional frameworks of comparison for future research using ZooMS as a method of biomolecular species identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Coutu
- Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PP, UK.,BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.,Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Alberto J Taurozzi
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Meaghan Mackie
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Theis Zetner Trolle Jensen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matthew J Collins
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.,McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, West Tower, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3ER, UK
| | - Judith Sealy
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hendy J. Ancient protein analysis in archaeology. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/3/eabb9314. [PMID: 33523896 PMCID: PMC7810370 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb9314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of ancient proteins from paleontological, archeological, and historic materials is revealing insights into past subsistence practices, patterns of health and disease, evolution and phylogeny, and past environments. This review tracks the development of this field, discusses some of the major methodological strategies used, and synthesizes recent developments in archeological applications of ancient protein analysis. Moreover, this review highlights some of the challenges faced by the field and potential future directions, arguing that the development of minimally invasive or nondestructive techniques, strategies for protein authentication, and the integration of ancient protein analysis with other biomolecular techniques are important research strategies as this field grows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hendy
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|