Abstract
A historical crypt offers us a particular view of the conditions of some buried materials (in this case textiles) and the various biogenic phenomena to which they were subjected over the centuries. In addition, significant knowledge can come by studying the DNA of buried objects which allows the recognition of materials, but also to reveal some practice of the funeral ceremony. In this study, the deteriorating microbial communities colonizing various funeral textile items were identified and characterized using microscopic observation, cultivation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing, hydrolytic tests; and culture-independent analysis (high-throughput sequencing, MinION platform). Different PCR assays and consequent sequencing of amplicons were employed to recognize the animal origin of bodice reinforcements and the type of plant used to embellish the young girl. The analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA from animal and plant) was also completed by the application of high-throughput sequencing through Illumina platform. The combination of all these techniques permitted the identification of a complex microbiota composed by dangerous degradative microorganisms able to hydrolyze various organic substrates such as fibroin, keratin, and cellulose. Bacteria responsible for metal corrosion and bio-mineralization, and entomopathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi. The analysis of aDNA identified the animal component used in bodice manufacturing, the plant utilized as ornament and probably the season of this fatal event.
Highlights
At the beginning of a restoration and conservation trial it is necessary, when it is possible, to analyze the target items in order to know well their characteristics and their degree of conservation.Among the various possible investigations, the microorganisms’ identification and their degradation abilities are important to perform using culture-dependent and –independent approaches [1,2]
Sci. 2020, 10, 5451 produced by natural fibers there is a widespread opinion that filamentous fungi are responsible for the biodeterioration of cellulosic textiles, while bacteria primarily degrade animal fibers [4,6]
We have focused our attention on those cloth objects which on their surfaces seemed to have biodeterioration phenomena and on establishing the origin of the materials used to manufacture the stiffening material of bodice and the decorative plant relic on the girl’s head
Summary
At the beginning of a restoration and conservation trial it is necessary, when it is possible, to analyze the target items in order to know well their characteristics and their degree of conservation.Among the various possible investigations, the microorganisms’ identification and their degradation abilities are important to perform using culture-dependent and –independent approaches [1,2]. The responsibility of microbial communities on the deterioration of cultural heritage items is largely accepted by the scientific community and operators [3,4,5]. Sci. 2020, 10, 5451 produced by natural fibers there is a widespread opinion that filamentous fungi are responsible for the biodeterioration of cellulosic textiles (cotton, linen, hemp, and jute), while bacteria primarily degrade animal fibers (silk and wool) [4,6]. Some attempts were tried to investigate silk biodegradation in laboratory conditions [7] using bacterial strains. The silk objects investigated in this manuscript are buried clothes, they were subjected to particular conditions, different to those described by previous works
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