Evidence for Differential Ancient DNA Survival in Human and Pig Bones from the Norse North Atlantic

DNA Preservation in Viking Pigs

Bibliographic Data

ID12371654
AuthorsMichael G Campana (0000-0003-0461-6462, Harvard University, corresponding author), Tom Mcgovern (0000-0002-1214-527X, City University of New York), T R Disotell (0000-0001-8521-2763, City University of New York), T Disotell (Department of Anthropology; New York University; New York City NY USA)
Year2012
Volume24
Issue6
Pages704-708
Publication date2012-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.2255
OpenAlexW1482921022
LanguageEN
References cited16

Current models of DNA degradation and previous research on Icelandic human skeletons predict ancient DNA preservation in the Norse North Atlantic faunal remains to be excellent. In contrast, we found that DNA preservation in Viking-Age pig remains was poor. We posit that this discrepancy in DNA survival between human and faunal remains is due to differing taphonomies. Our results highlight that DNA degradation is strongly dictated by micro-environmental taphonomic processes even in regions where the climate is conducive to DNA survival. Due to these differences, DNA preservation in animal remains may not be suitable proxies for DNA preservation in associated human remains. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Ancient DNA · Archaeology · Biology · DNA · Evolutionary biology · Icelandic · Taphonomy · Zoology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Demography · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Ecology · Genetics · Paleontology