Bloody Sharp Rocks: Optimization of aDNA Extraction from Experimental Lithic Artifacts

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Species detection using DNA recovered from lithic artifacts could indicate the manner in which tools were utilized and ultimately enhance our understanding of the mobility strategies and subsistence patterns employed by past peoples. Geneticists and archaeologists in the 1980s and 1990s managed to successfully extract DNA from lithics, using both modern experimental tools and lithic artifacts from archaeological contexts. These methods have seen little revision, despite advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) technologies over the past decade. In addition to teeth, bones, and wood, researchers can also consistently extract and sequence aDNA from non-endogenous environmental samples. These same advancements might allow the recovery of aDNA from lithic artifacts. We present results from an optimization study of aDNA extraction methods, using a set of experimental modern stone tools to identify methodological conditions for successful species detection.

Cite this Record

Bloody Sharp Rocks: Optimization of aDNA Extraction from Experimental Lithic Artifacts. Bethany Potter, Caroline Kisielinski, Justin Tackney, Dennis O'Rourke, Frederic Sellet. Presented at The 86th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2021 ( tDAR id: 467553)

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Spatial Coverage

min long: -168.574; min lat: 7.014 ; max long: -54.844; max lat: 74.683 ;

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32839