Isotopic biographies reveal horse rearing and trading networks in medieval London

This paper reports a high-resolution isotopic study of medieval horse mobility, revealing their origins and in-life mobility both regionally and internationally. The animals were found in an unusual horse cemetery site found within the City of Westminster, London, England. Enamel strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope analysis of 15 individuals provides information about likely place of birth, diet, and mobility during the first approximately 5 years of life. Results show that at least seven horses originated outside of Britain in relatively cold climates, potentially in Scandinavia or the Western Alps. Ancient DNA sexing data indicate no consistent sex-specific mobility patterning, although three of the five females came from exceptionally highly radiogenic regions. Another female with low mobility is suggested to be a sedentary broodmare. Our results provide direct and unprecedented evidence for a variety of horse movement and trading practices in the Middle Ages and highlight the importance of international trade in securing high-quality horses for medieval London elites

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordData availability: All collapsed and paired-end sequence data for samples sequenced in this study are available in compressed fastq format through the European Nucleotide Archive under accession number PRJEB44430, together with rescaled and trimmed bam sequence alignments against both the nuclear and mitochondrial horse reference genomes. Previously published ancient data used in this study are available under accession numbers PRJEB7537, PRJEB10098, PRJEB10854, PRJEB22390 and PRJEB31613, and detailed in Supplementary Table 1. The genomes of ten modern horses, publicly available, were also accessed as indicated in their corresponding original publications57,61,85-87.NOTE: see the published version available via the DOI in this record for the full list of authorsDomestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 BC. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia and Anatolia, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 BC, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 BC driving the spread of Indo-European languages. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium BC Sintashta culture

A Tool Derived from the Vicia faba Micronucleus Assay, to Assess Genotoxicity, Cytotoxicity or Biostimulation of Novel Compounds Used in Agriculture

The increased use of biostimulants in conventional agriculture and organic farming requires the implementation of rapid tests to determine their effectiveness in enhancing plant growth and protection against abiotic stresses. However, their innocuity to plant health has rarely been demonstrated. We used the Vicia faba Micronucleus Assay, as described by the standard AFNOR EN ISO 29200(2020-05) to reveal biostimulant, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of four commercialized wood-based products by comparing mitotic indices and micronucleus frequencies with respect to the controls. Neither genotoxicity, as measured by micronucleus frequency (MN), nor cytotoxicity, assessed by Mitotic index counts, was observed. Additionally, one of these stimulants (BHS®) conferred protective effects against contaminants (maleic hydrazide or lead nitrate). We describe that plotting micronuclei frequency against mitotic indices allows discrimination between cytotoxic/genotoxic effects from growth levels. Vicia faba experiments were successfully transposed to other agronomical important crops such as corn and sunflower. This technique can be valuable to industrials, to assess growth, potential cytoxicity and genotoxicity effects of any new biostimulant or organic

A Tool Derived from the <i>Vicia faba</i> Micronucleus Assay, to Assess Genotoxicity, Cytotoxicity or Biostimulation of Novel Compounds Used in Agriculture

The increased use of biostimulants in conventional agriculture and organic farming requires the implementation of rapid tests to determine their effectiveness in enhancing plant growth and protection against abiotic stresses. However, their innocuity to plant health has rarely been demonstrated. We used the Vicia faba Micronucleus Assay, as described by the standard AFNOR EN ISO 29200(2020-05) to reveal biostimulant, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of four commercialized wood-based products by comparing mitotic indices and micronucleus frequencies with respect to the controls. Neither genotoxicity, as measured by micronucleus frequency (MN), nor cytotoxicity, assessed by Mitotic index counts, was observed. Additionally, one of these stimulants (BHS®) conferred protective effects against contaminants (maleic hydrazide or lead nitrate). We describe that plotting micronuclei frequency against mitotic indices allows discrimination between cytotoxic/genotoxic effects from growth levels. Vicia faba experiments were successfully transposed to other agronomical important crops such as corn and sunflower. This technique can be valuable to industrials, to assess growth, potential cytoxicity and genotoxicity effects of any new biostimulant or organic

Assessing the predictive taxonomic power of the bony labyrinth 3D shape in horses, donkeys and their F1-hybrids

Horses and donkeys have had a far-reaching impact on human history, providing mechanical power for agriculture and transportation. Their F1-hybrids, especially mules, have also been of considerable importance due to their exceptional strength, endurance and resistance. The reconstruction of the respective role that horses, donkeys and mules played in past societies requires prior identification of their osseous elements in archaeological assemblages. This, however, remains difficult on the basis of morphological data alone and in the absence of complete skeletal elements. While DNA sequencing provides almost certain identification success, this approach requires dedicated infrastructure and sufficient ancient DNA (aDNA) preservation. Here, we assessed the performance of a cost-effective alternative approach based on geometric morphometric (GMM) analysis of the bony labyrinth, a structure carried within the petrosal bone. This extremely compact osseous structure provides good aDNA preservation and is frequently found in archaeological assemblages. To assess the GMM performance, we first used High-throughput DNA sequencing to identify 41 horses, 24 donkeys, 36 mules and one hinny from 11 archaeological sites from France and Turkey spanning different time periods. This provided a panel of 102 ancient equine remains for micro-computed tomography (microCT) and GMM assessment of the variation of the bony labyrinth shape, including the cochlea and the semicircular canals. Our new method shows good-to-excellent prediction rates (85.7%-95.2%) for the identification of species and hybrids when considering the cochlea and semicircular canals together. It provides a cheap, non-destructive alternative to aDNA for the taxonomic identification of past equine assemblages

Assessing the predictive taxonomic power of the bony labyrinth 3D shape in horses, donkeys and their F1-hybrids

International audienceHorses and donkeys have had a far-reaching impact on human history, providing mechanical power for agriculture and transportation. Their F1-hybrids, especially mules, have also been of considerable importance due to their exceptional strength, endurance and resistance. The reconstruction of the respective role that horses, donkeys and mules played in past societies requires prior identification of their osseous elements in archaeological assemblages. This, however, remains difficult on the basis of morphological data alone and in the absence of complete skeletal elements. While DNA sequencing provides almost certain identification success, this approach requires dedicated infrastructure and sufficient ancient DNA (aDNA) preservation. Here, we assessed the performance of a cost-effective alternative approach based on geometric morphometric (GMM) analysis of the bony labyrinth, a structure carried within the petrosal bone. This extremely compact osseous structure provides good aDNA preservation and is frequently found in archaeological assemblages. To assess the GMM performance, we first used High-throughput DNA sequencing to identify 41 horses, 24 donkeys, 36 mules and one hinny from 11 archaeological sites from France and Turkey spanning different time periods. This provided a panel of 102 ancient equine remains for micro-computed tomography (microCT) and GMM assessment of the variation of the bony labyrinth shape, including the cochlea and the semicircular canals. Our new method shows good-to-excellent prediction rates (85.7%–95.2%) for the identification of species and hybrids when considering the cochlea and semicircular canals together. It provides a cheap, non-destructive alternative to aDNA for the taxonomic identification of past equine assemblages

Isotopic biographies reveal horse rearing and trading networks in medieval London.

This paper reports a high-resolution isotopic study of medieval horse mobility, revealing their origins and in-life mobility both regionally and internationally. The animals were found in an unusual horse cemetery site found within the City of Westminster, London, England. Enamel strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope analysis of 15 individuals provides information about likely place of birth, diet, and mobility during the first approximately 5 years of life. Results show that at least seven horses originated outside of Britain in relatively cold climates, potentially in Scandinavia or the Western Alps. Ancient DNA sexing data indicate no consistent sex-specific mobility patterning, although three of the five females came from exceptionally highly radiogenic regions. Another female with low mobility is suggested to be a sedentary broodmare. Our results provide direct and unprecedented evidence for a variety of horse movement and trading practices in the Middle Ages and highlight the importance of international trade in securing high-quality horses for medieval London elites

Improving the extraction of ancient Yersinia pestis genomes from the dental pulp

Summary: Ancient DNA preserved in the dental pulp offers the opportunity to characterize the genome of some of the deadliest pathogens in human history. However, while DNA capture technologies help, focus sequencing efforts, and therefore, reduce experimental costs, the recovery of ancient pathogen DNA remains challenging. Here, we tracked the kinetics of ancient Yersinia pestis DNA release in solution during a pre-digestion of the dental pulp. We found that most of the ancient Y. pestis DNA is released within 60 min at 37°C in our experimental conditions. We recommend a simple pre-digestion as an economical procedure to obtain extracts enriched in ancient pathogen DNA, as longer digestion times release other types of templates, including host DNA. Combining this procedure with DNA capture, we characterized the genome sequences of 12 ancient Y. pestis bacteria from France dating to the second pandemic outbreaks of the 17th and 18th centuries Common Era

DNA methylation-based profiling of horse archaeological remains for age-at-death and castration

International audienceAge profiling of archaeological bone assemblages can inform on past animal management practices, but is limited by the fragmentary nature of the fossil record and the lack of universal skeletal markers for age. DNA methylation clocks offer new, albeit challenging, alternatives for estimating the age-at-death of ancient individuals. Here, we take advantage of the availability of a DNA methylation clock based on 31,836 CpG sites and dental age markers in horses to assess age predictions in 84 ancient remains. We evaluate our approach using whole-genome sequencing data and develop a capture assay providing reliable estimates for only a fraction of the cost. We also leverage DNA methylation patterns to assess castration practice in the past. Our work opens for a deeper characterization of past husbandry and ritual practices and holds the potential to reveal age mortality profiles in ancient societies, once extended to human remains

Historical management of equine resources in France from the Iron Age to the Modern Period

International audienceAlongside horses, donkeys and their first-generation hybrids represent members of the Equidae family known for their social, economic and symbolic importance in protohistoric and historical France. However, their relative importance and their respective roles in different regions and time periods are difficult to assess based on textual, iconographic and archaeological evidence. This is both due to incomplete, partial and scattered historical sources and difficulties to accurately assign fragmentary archaeological remains at the proper taxonomic level. DNA-based methods, however, allow for a robust identification of the taxonomic status of ancient equine osseous material from minimal sequence data. Here, we leveraged shallow ancient DNA sequencing and the dedicated Zonkey computational pipeline to obtain the first baseline distribution for horses, mules and donkeys in France from the Iron Age to the Modern period. Our collection includes a total of 873 ancient specimens spanning 128 sites and comprising 717 horses, 100 donkeys, 55 mules and a single hinny individual. While horses were ubiquitous and the most dominant species identified, our dataset reveals the importance of mule breeding during Roman times, especially between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE (Common Era), where they represented between 20.0% and 34.2% of equine assemblages. In contrast, donkeys were almost absent from northern France assemblages during the whole Roman period, but replaced mules in rural and urban commercial and economic centers from the early Middle Ages. Our work also identified donkeys of exceptional size during Late Antiquity, which calls for a deep reassessment of the true morphological space of past equine species. This study confirmed the general preference toward horses throughout all time periods investigated but revealed dynamic management strategies leveraging the whole breadth of equine resources in various social, geographic and temporal contexts