Sediment DNA can revolutionize archaeology—if it is used the right way
More On Article
- Culturing island biomes: marsupial translocation and bone tool production around New Guinea during the Pleistocene–Holocene
- Punic people were genetically diverse with almost no Levantine ancestors
- Bite force production and the origin of Homo
- A review on Pyrenean Pleistocene leopards paleoecology, paleobiogeography and adaptative convergences with snow leopards.
- HEAS Member Gerhard Weber Featured on Podcast
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.