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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
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Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
Published on: November 30, 2021
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Decoding the biological information contained in two ancient Slavonic parchment codices: an added historical value
Guadalupe Piñar1, Hakim Tafer1, Manfred Schreiner2
1Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, A-1190, Vienna, Austria.
Environmental Microbiology
|May 14, 2020
Summary
Metagenomics reveals the animal origins and viral content of ancient Slavic codices. This study also identifies parchment-degrading microbes and human-associated bacteria, offering insights into manuscript history and conservation.
Area of Science:
- Biocodicology
- Ancient Manuscript Studies
- Metagenomics
Background:
- Ancient manuscripts contain valuable historical and biological information.
- Understanding the materials and biological agents associated with historical documents is crucial for their preservation.
Observation:
- Shotgun metagenomics applied to two 11th-century Slavonic codices.
- Analysis of endogenous DNA to determine animal origins of parchment.
- Detection of viral nucleic sequences for the first time in manuscript materials.
Findings:
- Inferred animal origins of skins used in codex manufacture.
- Identified viral sequences, opening new biocodicological research avenues.
- Characterized surface microbiomes, revealing halophilic/halotolerant species (Nocardiopsis, Gracilibacillus, Saccharopolyspora, Aspergillaceae) responsible for parchment biodeterioration.
- Detected human skin microbiome members, indicating manuscript handling and potential pathogen presence.
Implications:
- Metagenomics offers novel insights into manuscript history and composition.
- Understanding microbial communities aids in assessing and mitigating parchment deterioration.
- Potential for identifying historical viral presence and human interaction through manuscript analysis.
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