Reconstructing Prehistoric Human Subsistence Patterns Using Ancient Environmental DNA from Submerged Archaeological Sites

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Hunting for Hunters, Underwater: Results and Future Directions for Submerged Ancient Sites" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) is emerging as a powerful tool for analyzing genetic information from organisms across the tree of life, dating back millions of years. The cold, undisturbed, anaerobic, water-sealed conditions of submerged archaeological sites provide ideal preservation for aeDNA, offering a unique opportunity to apply this cutting-edge approach to reconstruct detailed prehistoric human subsistence patterns. Additionally, the well-preserved, high-quality ancient DNA from these environments can contribute to the development and refinement of aeDNA techniques. While lake sediments have been widely used in aeDNA-based paleo-ecological studies, their application in underwater archaeological deposits remains rare. In this presentation, I will briefly summarize recent technical advances in aeDNA research, with a focus on its archaeological applications. I will then explore the potential and challenges of using aeDNA in submerged archaeological contexts. Finally, I will present preliminary aeDNA data and results from submerged sites in Lake Huron, and outline our plan for the next phase of analysis.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Hunting for Hunters, Underwater: Results and Future Directions for Submerged Ancient Sites

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51240