Ancient DNA
The genetic identification of species and breeds of domestic and non-domestic animals in the Near East during the Neolithic period (7th-8th millennia B.C.) through to the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium B.C.).
The identification of the animals used by ancient peoples during the developmental period of animal domestication and the introduction of secondary products can give us a clue to the processes that lay behind the choices made by these people that have had repercussions down to the present day. Why is it that we use only a selected number of animals for our 'domestic consumption'? Why is it that only a few animals have made it 'down onto the farm' whilst others are left to wander freely? When did people first start to milk animals and to shear them?
Archaeozoologists can identify most species present on archaeological sites by gross morphology, however some, especially sheep, goats and other small artiodactyla (even toed ungulates), can be somewhat problematic. Sex differentiation is necessary for identifying milk production in particular. Provided the sample is large enough, sex differentiation is possible for adult animals - however determining the sex of immature animals is impossible. Therefore, the need for a more reliable means of identification and differentiation has some relevance to our understanding of the processes involved in the development of all these practices.
I have been using bones and teeth from a number of different species from different periods of time to try to differentiate species and sexes. I have been using the polymerase chain reaction with universal primers such as Cytochrome b and 12S with limited success to differentiate species and Amelogenin primers to differentiate sexes.
The potential for DNA work in this field is enormous.
Participant
Lachlan Mairs
Copyright © 2003, Australian Museum
