Ancient DNA from Stone Tools

Summary

Proteins and DNA can be trapped in the microcracks on the surface of stone tools, which can then be extracted and analyzed to aid in inferring the use of the tool (Shanks et al. 2001; 2005). This nondestructive method involves the use of sonication to release DNA from the microcracks, then amplification of regions of mitochondrial DNA that are species specific. This technique was applied to ground and chipped stone from the Bridge River site in British Columbia. Focus on groundstone was of particular interest, due to debate over its use in either food preparation or bone tool creation. If used for bone tools, the potential to identify which species, such as deer or bear, was also addressed. Scrapers were also analyzed in order to surmise the species the tool had been used on. This technique provides an interesting new avenue of investigation into the use of lithics from archaeological sites.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Complex Fisher-Foragers of the Interior Pacific Northwest: The Housepit 54 Project at Bridge River, British Columbia

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16114