| 1. |
- Bergfeldt, Nora, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of microbial pathogens in Neolithic Scandinavian humans
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2045-2322. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the Neolithic transition, human lifestyle shifted from hunting and gathering to farming. This change altered subsistence patterns, cultural expression, and population structures as shown by the archaeological/zooarchaeological record, as well as by stable isotope and ancient DNA data. Here, we used metagenomic data to analyse if the transitions also impacted the microbiome composition in 25 Mesolithic and Neolithic hunter-gatherers and 13 Neolithic farmers from several Scandinavian Stone Age cultural contexts. Salmonella enterica, a bacterium that may have been the cause of death for the infected individuals, was found in two Neolithic samples from Battle Axe culture contexts. Several species of the bacterial genus Yersinia were found in Neolithic individuals from Funnel Beaker culture contexts as well as from later Neolithic context. Transmission of e.g. Y. enterocolitica may have been facilitated by the denser populations in agricultural contexts.
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| 2. |
- Kashuba, Natalija, et al.
(författare)
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Ancient DNA from mastics solidifies connection between material culture and genetics of mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Scandinavia
- 2019
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human demography research in grounded on the information derived from ancient DNA and archaeology. For example, the study on the early postglacial dual-route colonisation of the Scandinavian Peninsula is largely based on associating genomic data with the early dispersal of lithic technology from the East European Plain. However, a clear connection between material culture and genetics has been lacking. Here, we demonstrate that direct connection by analysing human DNA from chewed birch bark pitch mastics. These samples were discovered at Huseby Klev in western Sweden, a Mesolithic site with eastern lithic technology. We generated genome-wide data for three individuals, and show their affinity to the Scandinavian hunter-gatherers. Our samples date to 9880-9540 calBP, expanding the temporal range and distribution of the early Scandinavian genetic group. We propose that DNA from ancient mastics can be used to study environment and ecology of prehistoric populations.
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| 3. |
- Pochon, Zoé, et al.
(författare)
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aMeta : an accurate and memory-efficient ancient metagenomic profiling workflow
- 2023
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Ingår i: Genome Biology. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1465-6906 .- 1474-760X. ; 24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analysis of microbial data from archaeological samples is a growing field with great potential for understanding ancient environments, lifestyles, and diseases. However, high error rates have been a challenge in ancient metagenomics, and the availability of computational frameworks that meet the demands of the field is limited. Here, we propose aMeta, an accurate metagenomic profiling workflow for ancient DNA designed to minimize the amount of false discoveries and computer memory requirements. Using simulated data, we benchmark aMeta against a current state-of-the-art workflow and demonstrate its superiority in microbial detection and authentication, as well as substantially lower usage of computer memory.
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| 4. |
- Rissech, Carme, et al.
(författare)
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Skeletal remains of human perinatal individuals from the fortified Iberian Period settlement of Ca n’Oliver (6th century to 50 years BCE)
- 2023
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Ingår i: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. - 1866-9557 .- 1866-9565. ; 15:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Burial customs in the Iberian Period (Iron Age II) included cremation. Only perinatal and newborn infants were buried directly beneath floor settlement. These infants represent the very few unburned human remains recovered from Iberian sites. The interpretation of these infant burials is in debate, focusing on whether they are unnatural or natural deaths. Our aim is to infer mortality patterns and developmental conditions of these individuals, in order to respond if infanticide was present in these assemblages. A large perinatal human skeletal sample from the Ca n’Oliver site (sixth century to 50 years BCE) from the Iberian Period of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula was analysed, combining osteological methods together with tooth histology and aDNA analysis. Combining osteological and odontological estimates indicated ages between 22 and 42 weeks of gestation for 47 out of a total of 48 individuals. The remaining individual died at about 6 months after birth. Tooth height and enamel histology indicated in 9 out of a subgroup of 13 individuals a low probability of live birth. The remaining 4 individuals possibly survived birth for less than 2 months. According to morphological and molecular results, the sex ratio of this sample is approximately 1:1 male to female. The mortality distribution is consistent with natural mortality. These perinatal deaths were probably spontaneous abortions and neonatal deaths, reflecting an endogenous mortality profile due to genetic and maternal influences. The present study will serve to broaden our knowledge on perinatal individuals of the Iberian Period.
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| 5. |
- Srigyan, Megha, et al.
(författare)
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Bioarchaeological evidence of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant
- 2022
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Nature. - 2399-3642. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ancient genomic and archaeological data combine to identify a surprisingly early Islamic burial in modern day Syria. The Middle East plays a central role in human history harbouring a vast diversity of ethnic, cultural and religious groups. However, much remains to be understood about past and present genomic diversity in this region. Here we present a multidisciplinary bioarchaeological analysis of two individuals dated to the late 7th and early 8th centuries, the Umayyad Era, from Tell Qarassa, an open-air site in modern-day Syria. Radiocarbon dates and burial type are consistent with one of the earliest Islamic Arab burials in the Levant. Interestingly, we found genomic similarity to a genotyped group of modern-day Bedouins and Saudi rather than to most neighbouring Levantine groups. This study represents the genomic analysis of a secondary use site with characteristics consistent with an early Islamic burial in the Levant. We discuss our findings and possible historic scenarios in the light of forces such as genetic drift and their possible interaction with religious and cultural processes (including diet and subsistence practices).
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