NOthing goes to WAste (Nowa)

A protocol to optimise sampling of ancient teeth

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11899138
AutoresCarmen Esposito (0000-0001-5123-2555, autor correspondente), Owen Alexander Higgins (0000-0003-1264-5853), Alessia Galbusera, Melania Gigante (0000-0003-4028-4012), Federico Lugli (0000-0002-5642-2216), Wolfgang Muller (0000-0001-5368-8011), Wolfgang G Müller (0000-0002-4980-3512), R Madgwick (0000-0002-4396-3566), Alfredo Coppa (0000-0002-7708-2484), Stefano Benazzi (0000-0003-4305-6920), L Bondioli (0000-0002-8511-7667), Alessia Nava (0000-0002-6319-0425)
Ano2024
Volume171
Páginas106087-106087
Data de publicação2024-10-11
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Archaeological Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0305-4403 • E-ISSN: 1095-9238
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jas.2024.106087
OpenAlexW4403287025
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas5
Referências citadas144

Advancements in archaeological sciences through innovative scientific techniques applied to ancient human remains have increasingly been transforming the study of the past. Destructive analyses of bioarchaeological or palaeontological specimens such as dental histology, isotopic or elemental analysis of dental mineralised tissues, 14C dating, proteomic analysis or ancient DNA are increasingly being applied to obtain ever more refined past life histories. In tandem with spatially-resolved analyses, mineralised dental tissues, especially enamel, have proven to be ideal archives. The main concern with any of these techniques is the need for some level of destructive sampling and thus damage to specimens. In compliance with the ALARA (As Low [damage] As Reasonably Achievable) principle, we present a standardised protocol (the NOWA protocol) for the optimisation, in terms of minimising the destructive approach, of tooth sampling for histology, biomolecular and biogeochemical analyses. The NOWA protocol enables the collection of multiple datasets through optimised sampling of a single dental specimen, ensuring the preservation of most of the tooth and, to a substantial degree, its morphology. Overall, this approach balances the significant scientific insights from such investigations against the inevitable conservation requirements of valuable archaeological and palaeontological specimens, thus maximising the feasibility of future analyses of individual specimens that need to be evaluated on a case-to-case basis

Archaeology · Epistemology · Nothing · Protocol (science · Sampling (signal processing · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Computer Science · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Medicine · Philosophy · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology