Taxonomical Identification by Cytochrome b: A Patagonian Case

Summary

The application of traditional zooarchaeological methods in the analysis of faunal specimens recovered in Acevedo 1 site (Chubut, Argentina) led us to a low level of taxonomic identification. Therefore we decided to implement new ways to strengthen its information capacity. We joined hence the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (LGF-EAAF), which had developed locally a protocol for identify animal species in forensic contexts by Cytochrome b analysis. As a first step we tested the protocols by a blind test in order to identify bone subactual samples. The second step was calibrating its use in an archaeological context applying the protocol to Acevedo 1 site. Among the archaeological samples huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus, South Andean Deer), was identified. This is the first archaeological identification of this endemic deer of the Andean Patagonian forest in Western Chubut and the first to be achieved by Cytochrome b. As a conclusion, the protocol was effective in solving the problem of determining forensic species. The results obtained allow the determination of archaeological samples depending on the genetic material degradation but the destructive nature of the analysis and its costs make that its application must be assessed properly.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• New Methods in Zooarchaeology

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