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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
06:18
Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
Published on: November 30, 2021
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Archaeological bone lipids as palaeodietary markers
André C Colonese1, Thomas Farrell1,2, Alexandre Lucquin1
1BioArCh, University of York, Biology S-Block, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM
|July 28, 2015
Summary
Stable isotope analysis of archaeological bone lipids offers new dietary insights. This method reliably recovers lipids, revealing past diets and distinguishing between marine/terrestrial and C3/C4 plant consumers.
Area of Science:
- Paleoecology
- Biogeochemistry
- Archaeological Science
Background:
- Stable isotope analysis of bone collagen and mineral provides insights into past diets and environments.
- Lipid analysis from archaeological bone has been limited due to methodological challenges in compound recovery and characterization.
Observation:
- A modified solvent extraction protocol effectively recovers endogenous lipids from archaeological bone.
- Lipids were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS).
Findings:
- Recovered archaeological bone lipids reflect dietary input, complementing collagen and bioapatite data.
- Lipid isotope analysis can differentiate between marine and terrestrial consumers, and C3 and C4 plant consumers.
- Essential fatty acids in bone lipids offer additional paleodietary information.
Implications:
- Archaeological bone lipids represent a valuable, previously underutilized source of dietary information.
- This method enhances our understanding of past ecologies and human/animal diets.
- The findings open new avenues for paleodietary reconstruction using lipid biomarkers.
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