Ancient Hominin Bone Proteomes: Improving our Understanding of Past Human Behavior through the Study of Ancient Bone Proteins.

Summary

The analysis of ancient proteins is increasingly used to study archaeological and anthropological bone specimens from prehistoric time periods. This ranges from large-scale ZooMS screening (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) of morphologically unidentifiable specimens to the targeted analysis of ancient bone proteomes from humans through the application of LC-MS/MS. Here, some biological and phylogenetic results that can be obtained through the analysis of ancient human bone proteomes will be discussed in the light of the Châtelperronian, "transitional", technocomplex of western Europe. This technocomplex is chronologically placed between Middle Palaeolithic (MP) and Upper Palaeolithic (UP) lithic industries and displays behavioural aspects interpreted as intermediate between what is typically seen in the MP and UP. Despite intense research interest, the biological association of the Châtelperronian to either Neanderthals and/or Anatomically Modern Humans remains much debated. The analysis of a Pleistocene hominin bone proteome associated to the Châtelperronian allowed us to establish the biological affiliation of this specimen, and this will be presented together with biological insights obtained through the analysis of the same bone proteome.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Proteins in Play: The Application of Ancient Proteins to the Study of Diet, Disease, Culture, and Evolution

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15944