Microbial Communities from Soil and Coprolites

Summary

With implications involving health, nutrition, and even behavior, research into the human microbiome is a burgeoning field within the biological sciences. Less well understood is whether humans, both modern and past, share(d) a recognizable core microbiome. Archaeological materials represent a window into microbiome structure and function of ancient peoples. Assuming microorganisms or their DNA persist for many years under optimal conditions, coprolites should represent time capsules into the distal gut microbiome of ancient people; potentially providing information concerning subsistence practices and health. A vital step towards understanding how such information presents in the archaeological record would be the capacity to recognize and differentiate ancient microbiome constituents against potential contaminants, especially from soil. To test this, we performed parallel microbial 16S rRNA gene surveys using DNA extracted from co-located cave soil and coprolite samples. To verify that microbial DNA is distinct between the two sample types, principal coordinate analysis was applied to rRNA gene libraries from both. Microbial genera associated with modern humans were also tracked. Differentiation of coprolite microbial communities from those of native soil will increase our confidence that detected microbial communities are indeed derived from ancient peoples; an approach that will be applicable to other locales.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22585