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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
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Ancient DNA diffuses from human bones to cave stones.

Mohamed S Sarhan1, Achim Lehmkuhl2, Rainer Straub3

  • 1Eurac Research, Institute for Mummy Studies, 39100 Bolzano\Bozen, Italy.

Iscience
|January 6, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Ancient DNA (aDNA) can be recovered from cave sediments. This study shows human DNA diffuses from bones into surrounding calcite deposits, preserving it better and allowing genome reconstruction.

Keywords:
AnthropologyArcheologyBiological sciencesEvolutionary biologyPaleobiologyPaleogenetics

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Area of Science:

  • Paleogenomics
  • Archaeology
  • Geomicrobiology

Background:

  • Cave sediments are increasingly recognized as sources of ancient DNA (aDNA).
  • The precise origins and preservation mechanisms of sedimentary aDNA, particularly human DNA, remain under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the source and preservation of human DNA within calcite deposits covering a Bronze Age skeleton.
  • To explore the potential of cave stone deposits as archives for ancient microbial genomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ancient DNA from human skeletal remains and overlying calcite deposits.
  • Whole human mitochondrial genome reconstruction and sex determination.
  • Bioinformatic reconstruction of ancient bacterial and archaeal genomes.

Main Results:

  • Identical human mitochondrial haplotypes were recovered from both bones and calcite deposits.
  • Calcite deposits exhibited superior ancient DNA preservation compared to skeletal remains.
  • Six ancient bacterial and archaeal genomes were successfully reconstructed from the deposits.

Conclusions:

  • Direct diffusion of human DNA from bones into calcite formations occurs.
  • Cave calcite deposits serve as valuable archives for both human and microbial ancient DNA.
  • This research expands the scope of paleoarcheological investigations using cave deposits.