Sediment DNA can revolutionize archaeology—if it is used the right way
More On Article
- The cranium from the Octagon in Ephesos
- Associations of Facial Shape With Physical Strength and 2D:4D in a Turkish Male and Female Sample
- A sedimentary ancient DNA perspective on human and carnivore persistence through the Late Pleistocene in El Mirón Cave, Spain.
- Intra-individual variability in ancient plasmodium DNA recovery highlights need for enhanced sampling
- HEAS Member Katerina Douka Awarded Consolidator ERC Grant
Aldeias, V., Stahlschmidt, M.C., 2024. Sediment DNA can revolutionize archaeology—if it is used the right way. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121, e2317042121.
The possibility of fingerprinting ancient organisms using the DNA they leave behind is a revolution in our understanding of the past. Paleogenetic studies are rewriting our knowledge on ancient hominin genomes, hominin dispersals, interbreeding events, and ancient DNA is also a key tool in biodiversity monitoring efforts. Of particular interest: We can now retrieve DNA directly from sediments and soils (sedaDNA) (1–3) in a variety of modern and past depositional environments, including permafrost, lakes, marine sediments, or caves settings.