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Scaggion C, Marinato M, Dal Sasso G, Nodari L, Saupe T, Aneli S, Pagani L, Scheib CL, Rigo M, Artioli G. A fresh perspective on infrared spectroscopy as a prescreening method for molecular and stable isotopes analyses on ancient human bones. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1028. [PMID: 38200208 PMCID: PMC10781948 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51518-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Following the development of modern genome sequencing technologies, the investigation of museum osteological finds is increasingly informative and popular. Viable protocols to help preserve these collections from exceedingly invasive analyses, would allow greater access to the specimens for scientific research. The main aim of this work is to survey skeletal tissues, specifically petrous bones and roots of teeth, using infrared spectroscopy as a prescreening method to assess the bone quality for molecular analyses. This approach could overcome the major problem of identifying useful genetic material in archaeological bone collections without resorting to demanding, time consuming and expensive laboratory studies. A minimally invasive sampling of archaeological bones was developed and bone structural and compositional changes were examined, linking isotopic and genetic data to infrared spectra. The predictive model based on Infrared parameters is effective in determining the occurrence of ancient DNA (aDNA); however, the quality/quantity of aDNA cannot be determined because of the influence of environmental and local factors experienced by the examined bones during the burial period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Scaggion
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.
- INSTM, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, 50121, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Marinato
- Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music, University of Padova, 35139, Padova, Italy
| | - Gregorio Dal Sasso
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Italian National Research Council-CNR, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Nodari
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, Italian National Research Council-CNR, 35127, Padova, Italy
| | - Tina Saupe
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, 51010, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Serena Aneli
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, Italy
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Pagani
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, 51010, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, Italy
| | - Christiana L Scheib
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, 51010, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Manuel Rigo
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Italian National Research Council-CNR, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Gilberto Artioli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- INSTM, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, 50121, Firenze, Italy
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Muschick M, Jemmi E, Lengacher N, Hänsch S, Wales N, Kishe MA, Mwaiko S, Dieleman J, Lever MA, Salzburger W, Verschuren D, Seehausen O. Ancient DNA is preserved in fish fossils from tropical lake sediments. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5913-5931. [PMID: 37830773 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Tropical freshwater lakes are well known for their high biodiversity, and particularly the East African Great Lakes are renowned for their adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes. While comparative phylogenetic analyses of extant species flocks have revealed patterns and processes of their diversification, little is known about evolutionary trajectories within lineages, the impacts of environmental drivers, or the scope and nature of now-extinct diversity. Time-structured palaeodata from geologically young fossil records, such as fossil counts and particularly ancient DNA (aDNA) data, would help fill this large knowledge gap. High ambient temperatures can be detrimental to the preservation of DNA, but refined methodology now allows data generation even from very poorly preserved samples. Here, we show for the first time that fish fossils from tropical lake sediments yield endogenous aDNA. Despite generally low endogenous content and high sample dropout, the application of high-throughput sequencing and, in some cases, sequence capture allowed taxonomic assignment and phylogenetic placement of 17% of analysed fish fossils to family or tribe level, including remains which are up to 2700 years old or weigh less than 1 mg. The relationship between aDNA degradation and the thermal age of samples is similar to that described for terrestrial samples from cold environments when adjusted for elevated temperature. Success rates and aDNA preservation differed between the investigated lakes Chala, Kivu and Victoria, possibly caused by differences in bottom water oxygenation. Our study demonstrates that the sediment records of tropical lakes can preserve genetic information on rapidly diversifying fish taxa over time scales of millennia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Muschick
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Eliane Jemmi
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas Lengacher
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Hänsch
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nathan Wales
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mary A Kishe
- Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Salome Mwaiko
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Jorunn Dieleman
- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mark Alexander Lever
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Zurich, Switzerland
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Dirk Verschuren
- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
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Bioarchaeological and palaeogenomic portrait of two Pompeians that died during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6468. [PMID: 35618734 PMCID: PMC9135728 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10899-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The archaeological site of Pompeii is one of the 54 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy, thanks to its uniqueness: the town was completely destroyed and buried by a Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 AD. In this work, we present a multidisciplinary approach with bioarchaeological and palaeogenomic analyses of two Pompeian human remains from the Casa del Fabbro. We have been able to characterize the genetic profile of the first Pompeian’ genome, which has strong affinities with the surrounding central Italian population from the Roman Imperial Age. Our findings suggest that, despite the extensive connection between Rome and other Mediterranean populations, a noticeable degree of genetic homogeneity exists in the Italian peninsula at that time. Moreover, palaeopathological analyses identified the presence of spinal tuberculosis and we further investigated the presence of ancient DNA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the power of a combined approach to investigate ancient humans and confirms the possibility to retrieve ancient DNA from Pompeii human remains. Our initial findings provide a foundation to promote an intensive and extensive paleogenetic analysis in order to reconstruct the genetic history of population from Pompeii, a unique archaeological site.
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Keighley X, Bro‐Jørgensen MH, Ahlgren H, Szpak P, Ciucani MM, Sánchez Barreiro F, Howse L, Gotfredsen AB, Glykou A, Jordan P, Lidén K, Olsen MT. Predicting sample success for large-scale ancient DNA studies on marine mammals. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 21:1149-1166. [PMID: 33463014 PMCID: PMC8248401 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, nonhuman ancient DNA studies have begun to focus on larger sample sizes and whole genomes, offering the potential to reveal exciting and hitherto unknown answers to ongoing biological and archaeological questions. However, one major limitation to such studies is the substantial financial and time investments still required during sample screening, due to uncertainty regarding successful sample selection. This study investigates the effect of a wide range of sample properties including latitude, sample age, skeletal element, collagen preservation, and context on endogenous content and DNA damage profiles for 317 ancient and historic pinniped samples collected from across the North Atlantic and surrounding regions. Using generalised linear and mixed-effect models, we found that a range of factors affected DNA preservation within each of the species under consideration. The most important findings were that endogenous content varied significantly within species according to context, the type of skeletal element, the collagen content and collection year. There also appears to be an effect of the sample's geographic origin, with samples from the Arctic generally showing higher endogenous content and lower damage rates. Both latitude and sample age were found to have significant relationships with damage levels, but only for walrus samples. Sex, ontogenetic age and extraction material preparation were not found to have any significant relationship with DNA preservation. Overall, skeletal element and sample context were found to be the most influential factors and should therefore be considered when selecting samples for large-scale ancient genome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xénia Keighley
- Section for Evolutionary GenomicsGLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDenmark
- Arctic Centre/Groningen Institute of ArchaeologyFaculty of ArtsUniversity of GroningenAS GroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Maiken Hemme Bro‐Jørgensen
- Section for Evolutionary GenomicsGLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDenmark
- Archaeological Research LaboratoryDepartment of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Hans Ahlgren
- Archaeological Research LaboratoryDepartment of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Paul Szpak
- Department of AnthropologyTrent UniversityPeterboroughOntarioCanada
| | - Marta Maria Ciucani
- Section for Evolutionary GenomicsGLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDenmark
| | | | - Lesley Howse
- Archaeology CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | - Aikaterini Glykou
- Archaeological Research LaboratoryDepartment of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Peter Jordan
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient HistoryLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Kerstin Lidén
- Archaeological Research LaboratoryDepartment of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Section for Evolutionary GenomicsGLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDenmark
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Vinueza-Espinosa DC, Santos C, Martínez-Labarga C, Malgosa A. Human DNA extraction from highly degraded skeletal remains: How to find a suitable method? Electrophoresis 2020; 41:2149-2158. [PMID: 33002215 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202000171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Retrieving DNA from highly degraded human skeletal remains is still a challenge due to low concentration and fragmentation, which makes it difficult to extract and purify. Recent works showed that silica-based methods allow better DNA recovery and this fact may be attributed to the type of bones and the quality of the preserved tissue. However, more systematic studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of the different silica-based extraction methods considering the type of bones. The main goal of the present study is to establish the best extraction method and the type of bone that can maximize the recovery of PCR-amplifiable DNA and the subsequent retrieval of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic information. Five individuals were selected from an archaeological site located in Catalonia-Spain dating from 5th to 11th centuries AD. For each individual, five samples from different skeletal regions were collected: petrous bone, pulp cavity and cementum of tooth, and rib and limb bones. Four extraction methods were tested, three silica-based (silica in-suspension, HE column and XS plasma column) and the classical method based on phenol-chloroform. Silica in-suspension method from petrous bone and pulp cavity showed the best results. However, the remains preservation will ultimately be the key to the molecular result success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Vinueza-Espinosa
- Biology Anthropology Research Group, Department of Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology and Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Santos
- Biology Anthropology Research Group, Department of Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology and Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Department of Biology, Centre of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Assumpció Malgosa
- Biology Anthropology Research Group, Department of Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology and Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Gismondi A, Baldoni M, Gnes M, Scorrano G, D’Agostino A, Di Marco G, Calabria G, Petrucci M, Müldner G, Von Tersch M, Nardi A, Enei F, Canini A, Rickards O, Alexander M, Martínez-Labarga C. A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227433. [PMID: 31990948 PMCID: PMC6986732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C3-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C4 plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C3 cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Gismondi
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marica Baldoni
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Micaela Gnes
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Scorrano
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia D’Agostino
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Di Marco
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulietta Calabria
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Petrucci
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gundula Müldner
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, England, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Von Tersch
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, England, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Nardi
- Department of Mathematics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Enei
- Museo Civico di Santa Marinella “Museo del Mare e della Navigazione Antica”, Castello di Santa Severa (Roma–Italia)
| | - Antonella Canini
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Olga Rickards
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Michelle Alexander
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, England, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Afonso C, Nociarova D, Santos C, Martinez-Labarga C, Mestres I, Duran M, Malgosa A. Sex selection in late Iberian infant burials: Integrating evidence from morphological and genetic data. Am J Hum Biol 2018; 31:e23204. [PMID: 30556221 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the infant burials found inside Iberian homes in relation to a possible case of sex selection. METHODS The study included the remains of 11 infant individuals buried under the 10 houses excavated in the late Iberian village of Camp de les Lloses (Tona, Barcelona, Spain). Sex was determined using genetic analysis. RESULTS Our results showed that almost all the burials were females. However, the age interval of death was wide enough to weaken the premise of infanticide, and the burials probably represent cases of natural death. DISCUSSION Infanticide in its different forms has long been argued as an explanation for the infant remains found throughout various burial sites. Many authors thought that infanticide, mainly femicide, was the main method of population control in ancient times. However, there is no anthropological evidence (age distribution and sex analyzed genetically) to support the intentional killing of females in this or in other cases. We hypothesized that there was a positive selection for females to be buried inside the houses, probably related to their benefactor roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Afonso
- Unitat d'Antropologia biològica, Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Antropologia e Saúde, Life Science Department, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Dominika Nociarova
- Unitat d'Antropologia biològica, Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Cristina Santos
- Unitat d'Antropologia biològica, Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Cristina Martinez-Labarga
- Centre of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA studies, Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Imma Mestres
- Centre d'Interpretació del Camp de les Lloses, Tona, Spain
| | | | - Assumpció Malgosa
- Unitat d'Antropologia biològica, Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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Baldoni M, Scorrano G, Gismondi A, D’Agostino A, Alexander M, Gaspari L, Vallelonga F, Canini A, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga C. Who were the miners of Allumiere? A multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct the osteobiography of an Italian worker community. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205362. [PMID: 30308078 PMCID: PMC6181348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
This research presents an in-depth study of the skeletal remains collected from the archaeological site of Allumiere (15th-16th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). A multidisciplinary approach was used, combining skeletal biology, molecular anthropology and archaeobotany with the aim of reconstructing the osteobiography of the alum miners buried at the site. Since 1460, the area of the Tolfa Mountains was significant for the exploitation of alum which was used for a wide range of purposes in the Middle Ages, ranging from woven production to medical practice. A total of 70 individuals (63 adults and 7 juveniles) were studied. The sex ratio of the community indicated a higher prevalence of males with respect to females. Morphological examination indicated occupational musculoskeletal stress markers, which might reflect the specific phase of alum production that each individual was occupied in. Dietary reconstruction was primarily performed through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis with integration of the results obtained by microscopic, genetic and GC-MS investigations on dental calculus. The diet was omnivorous, indicating a reliance on C3-terrestrial protein and evidence for limited C4 consumption by some individuals. Herbivores, such as sheep and cattle, appear to have contributed to the diet more than pigs and chickens. Consumption of Fagaceae and Poaceae species was predominant; moreover, indicators of Brassicaceae and milk and its derivatives were abundantly recurrent in the population, followed by plant oils and theophylline. Furthermore, the detection of pharmacological alkaloids indicated the knowledge and application of medicinal plants by the community. The novel use of multiple techniques based on cutting-edge technologies has provided a unique window on the lifestyles of individuals from one of the first Italian settlements of alum workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Baldoni
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Forense e Biologia dello Scheletro, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
- Laboratorio di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Gabriele Scorrano
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA antico, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Angelo Gismondi
- Laboratorio di Botanica, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Alessia D’Agostino
- Laboratorio di Botanica, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Michelle Alexander
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Gaspari
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA antico, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Fabrizio Vallelonga
- Sapienza Università di Roma, Dipartimento di Scienza dell'Antichità, Cattedra di Archeologia Cristiana e Medievale, Roma, Italia
| | - Antonella Canini
- Laboratorio di Botanica, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Olga Rickards
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA antico, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Forense e Biologia dello Scheletro, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA antico, Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italia
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9
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Estimation of collagen presence in dry bone using combined X-ray and neutron radiography. Appl Radiat Isot 2018; 139:141-145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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10
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Palomo-Díez S, Martínez-Labarga C, Gomes C, Esparza-Arroyo Á, Rickards O, Arroyo-Pardo E. Comparison of two different DNA extraction methodologies for critical bone or teeth samples. FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL GENETICS SUPPLEMENT SERIES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigss.2017.09.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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11
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Sources of Materials for Paleomicrobiology. Microbiol Spectr 2017; 4. [PMID: 27726809 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.poh-0016-2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Paleomicrobiology establishes the diagnosis of ancient infectious diseases by studying ancient pathogens. This recent science also analyzes the evolution of these pathogens, virulence, and their adaptation to their habitat and their vectors. The DNA persists a long time after the death of an organism despite the chemical and enzymatic degradation. The possibility of sequencing bacterial, viral, parasitic and archaeal DNA molecules persists over time.Various sources are used for these studies: frozen tissue and particularly human tissue are a exceptional source for the analysis because at very low temperatures, all biological activity is suspended. The coprolites are a source of choice for studying the human microbiome. Other sources, the ancient bones are the most abundant, however, they may contain only small amounts of DNA due to natural leaching. When the use of the tooth is possible, is a particularly interesting source because of its highly mineralized structure, which gives greater persistence than bone. The calcified tartar deposited on teeth is a source of interest for the study of oral microbiome.All these sources are subject to precautions (gloves and masks hat) at the time of sampling to avoid cross contamination and also be listed in the most precise way because they are precious and rare.
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Varano S, Scorrano G, Martínez-Labarga C, Finocchio A, Rapone C, Berti A, Rickards O. Exploring the mitochondrial DNA variability of the Amazonian Yanomami. Am J Hum Biol 2016; 28:846-856. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Varano
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies; University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’; Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1 Rome Italy
| | - Gabriele Scorrano
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies; University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’; Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1 Rome Italy
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies; University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’; Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1 Rome Italy
| | - Andrea Finocchio
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies; University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’; Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1 Rome Italy
| | - Cesare Rapone
- Carabinieri, Scientific Investigation Department; Viale di Tor di Quinto n. 151 Rome Italy
| | - Andrea Berti
- Carabinieri, Scientific Investigation Department; Viale di Tor di Quinto n. 151 Rome Italy
| | - Olga Rickards
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies; University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’; Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1 Rome Italy
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