Ancient human DNA recovered from a Palaeolithic pendant

Area of Science:

• Paleogenetics
• Archaeology
• Bioarchaeology

Background:

• Pleistocene artefacts offer insights into human behavior but are rarely found in burials, limiting individual identification.
• Linking artefacts to specific individuals is challenging due to the scarcity of associated skeletal remains for morphological or genetic analysis.

Observation:

• A novel non-destructive method was developed to gradually release ancient DNA from bone and tooth artefacts.
• This technique was applied to an Upper Palaeolithic deer tooth pendant from Denisova Cave.

Findings:

• Ancient human and deer mitochondrial genomes were recovered, dating the pendant to approximately 19,000–25,000 years ago.
• Nuclear DNA analysis revealed the pendant's maker or wearer was female with strong genetic links to Ancient North Eurasian populations.
• The genetic profile shows affinities to individuals previously found only in eastern Siberia.

Implications:

• This study establishes a new paradigm for linking archaeological cultural records with genetic data from prehistoric periods.
• The method allows for the potential identification of individuals associated with non-burial artefacts, enhancing our understanding of Pleistocene societies.
• It expands the geographical scope of Ancient North Eurasian genetic heritage.