How a Paleogenomic Approach Can Provide Details on Bioarchaeological Reconstruction: A Case Study from the Globular Amphorae Culture.

Stefania Vai,Elena Pilli,David Caramelli,Maria Angela Diroma,Martina Lari,Alicja Budnik,Costanza Cannariato

doi:10.3390/genes12060910

Stefania Vai, Elena Pilli + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12060910

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Abstract

Ancient human remains have the potential to explain a great deal about the prehistory of humankind. Due to recent technological and bioinformatics advances, their study, at the palaeogenomic level, can provide important information about population dynamics, culture changes, and the lifestyles of our ancestors. In this study, mitochondrial and nuclear genome data obtained from human bone remains associated with the Neolithic Globular Amphorae culture, which were recovered in the Megalithic barrow of Kierzkowo (Poland), were reanalysed to gain insight into the social organisation and use of the archaeological site and to provide information at the individual level. We were able to successfully estimate the minimum number of individuals, sex, kin relationships, and phenotypic traits of the buried individuals, despite the low level of preservation of the bone samples and the intricate taphonomic conditions. In addition, the evaluation of damage patterns allowed us to highlight the presence of “intruders”—that is, of more recent skeletal remains that did not belong to the original burial. Due to its characteristics, the study of the Kierzkowo barrow represented a challenge for the reconstruction of the biological profile of the human community who exploited it and an excellent example of the contribution that ancient genomic analysis can provide to archaeological reconstruction.

Highlights

Over the years, the study of ancient DNA study has proven valuable and essential for tracing migrations of historic and prehistoric individuals and groups
Our molecular study of the human skeletal remains from Kierzkowo first focused on the analysis of mitochondrial DNA genomes obtained through a capture enrichment approach associated with generation sequencing [3]
Due to the introduction of generation sequencing methodologies in the ancient DNA (aDNA) field, particular emphasis has been placed on archaeobiological research as a way to gain insight into the environmental conditions and the social organisation of past populations and provide information at the individual level

Summary

Introduction

The study of ancient DNA study has proven valuable and essential for tracing migrations of historic and prehistoric individuals and groups. Advances in the sequencing and analysis of the genomes of both modern and ancient peoples have facilitated a number of breakthroughs in the understanding of human evolutionary history [1] In this context, the archaeological excavations and retrieval of skeletal human remains represent a unique opportunity to study a population history and shed light on cultural changes and the lifestyles of our ancestors. The molecular characterisation of human remains can represent an important information source to describe past populations, for educational purposes: genomic data can be integrated in archaeological and anthropological reconstruction in order to reach a wider public in contexts devoted to science and culture communication, such as museum exhibitions, archaeological parks, and documentaries

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