15 research outputs found

    Ancient DNA of guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) indicates a probable new center of domestication and pathways of global distribution

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    Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. Our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern Colombian Highlands. We identify a Peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the Caribbean. We also demonstrate that Peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution.Fil: Lord, E.. Stockholms Universitet; Suecia. University of Otago; Nueva ZelandaFil: Collins, C.. University of Otago; Nueva ZelandaFil: deFrance, S.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: LeFebvre, M. J.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Pigière, F.. Universidad de Dublin; IrlandaFil: Eeckhout, P.. Université Libre de Bruxelles; BélgicaFil: Erauw, C.. Université Libre de Bruxelles; BélgicaFil: Fitzpatrick, S. M.. State University of Oregon; Estados UnidosFil: Healy, P. F.. Trent University; CanadáFil: Martínez Polanco, M. F.. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; Francia. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; España. Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social; EspañaFil: Garcia, J. L.. Stetson University; Estados UnidosFil: Ramos Roca, E.. Universidad de los Andes. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Antropología; ColombiaFil: Delgado Burbano, Miguel Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Área Antropológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute Fudan University; ChinaFil: Sánchez Urriago, A.. Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia; ColombiaFil: Peña Léon, G. A.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Toyne, J. M.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Dahlstedt, A.. Arizona State University; Estados UnidosFil: Moore, K. M.. State University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Laguer Diaz, C.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Zori, C.. Baylor University; Estados UnidosFil: Matisoo-Smith, E.. University of Otago; Nueva Zeland

    The 10,000-year biocultural history of fallow deer and its implications for conservation policy

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    Over the last 10,000 y, humans have manipulated fallow deer populations with varying outcomes. Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) are now endangered. European fallow deer (Dama dama) are globally widespread and are simultaneously considered wild, domestic, endangered, invasive and are even the national animal of Barbuda and Antigua. Despite their close association with people, there is no consensus regarding their natural ranges or the timing and circumstances of their human-mediated translocations and extirpations. Our mitochondrial analyses of modern and archaeological specimens revealed two distinct clades of European fallow deer present in Anatolia and the Balkans. Zooarchaeological evidence suggests these regions were their sole glacial refugia. By combining biomolecular analyses with archaeological and textual evidence, we chart the declining distribution of Persian fallow deer and demonstrate that humans repeatedly translocated European fallow deer, sourced from the most geographically distant populations. Deer taken to Neolithic Chios and Rhodes derived not from nearby Anatolia, but from the Balkans. Though fallow deer were translocated throughout the Mediterranean as part of their association with the Greco-Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana, deer taken to Roman Mallorca were not locally available Dama dama, but Dama mesopotamica. Romans also initially introduced fallow deer to Northern Europe but the species became extinct and was reintroduced in the medieval period, this time from Anatolia. European colonial powers then transported deer populations across the globe. The biocultural histories of fallow deer challenge preconceptions about the divisions between wild and domestic species and provide information that should underpin modern management strategies

    The 10,000-year biocultural history of fallow deer and its implications for conservation policy

    Get PDF
    Over the last 10,000 years, humans have manipulated fallow deer populations with varying outcomes. Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) are now endangered. European fallow deer (Dama dama) are globally widespread and are simultaneously considered wild, domestic, endangered, invasive, and are even the national animal of Barbuda and Antigua. Despite their close association with people, there is no consensus regarding their natural ranges or the timing and circumstances of their human-mediated translocations and extirpations. Our mitochondrial analyses of modern and archaeological specimens revealed two distinct clades of European fallow deer present in Anatolia and the Balkans. Zooarchaeological evidence suggests these regions were their sole glacial refugia. By combining biomolecular analyses with archaeological and textual evidence, we chart the declining distribution of Persian fallow deer and demonstrate that humans repeatedly translocated European fallow deer, sourced from the most geographically distant populations. Deer taken to Chios and Rhodes in the Neolithic derived not from nearby Anatolia, but from the Balkans. Though fallow deer were translocated throughout the Mediterranean as part of their association with the Greco-Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana, deer taken to Roman Mallorca were not locally available Dama dama, but Dama mesopotamica. Romans also initially introduced fallow deer to Northern Europe but the species became extinct and was reintroduced in the medieval period, this time from Anatolia. European colonial powers then transported deer populations across the globe. We argue that these biocultural histories of fallow deer should underpin modern management strategie

    Vagrant vultures: archaeological evidence for the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in the Low Countries

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    Proteomic sexing of archaeological cattle remains at Neolithic Kilshane

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    Although proteomic techniques have been increasingly used to improve our understanding of the human past, few have focussed on the study of tooth enamel for sexing in archaeofaunal remains, despite initial studies over a decade ago investigating human teeth. Here we explore the use of LC-orbitrap-MS/MS for identifying the sex of archaeological domestic cattle remains from the Neolithic enclosure at Kilshane, Ireland (c. 3600 cal. BC), in addition to modern reference materials. Although several individuals could be confidently identified as male, and some less confidently as female, there were also some inconsistencies with predictions based on morphology, albeit such estimations based largely on size. Through comparison with osteometric analyses, the proteomic analyses estimated 14 consistent identifications and six discrepancies, with one of the two speculative males confirmed through the use of proteomics. The male/female proportions for the osteometric analysis based on the metacarpals, the most sexually dimorphic skeletal element, showed that slightly over 50% of the bones were from females and slightly under 50% from males, whereas in the case of proteomics, depending on what level of caution we place on biomarker usage, this is much lower for the identification of males, ranging from 12.5 to 46% (3–11 specimens of 24 successful proteome samples with estimated sex based on their molars). Unexpectedly, our results show evidence of clear differences between modern reference materials and archaeological materials, likely reflecting preservation biases relating to the protein sequences.<br/

    Diet, hygiene and health in Roman period northern Gaul: A multidisciplinary study of a latrine from an artisan household in the vicus Orolaunum (Arlon, southern Belgium, c. 250–280 CE)

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    Botanical (macro remains and pollen) and animal remains, including intestinal parasites, from a latrine dated between c. 250 CE and 280 CE from the artisan quarter of the vicus Orolaunum (Arlon) have been studied. The results provide information on the diet and health of a non-elite and poorly understood part of the population in northern Gaul. The identified plant remains document a diet which include several Roman introductions to the region, but hardly any truly exotic imports. Also the remains of fish sauce have been identified, but this was a locally produced variety and possibly a cheaper version of the typical Mediterranean product. The results indicate that the diet of the household using the latrine was strongly influenced by romanisation and that the lack of exotic imports was most likely the result of a low economic status rather than a lack of interest for these products. The people using the latrine were also infected with both roundworm and whipworm, two intestinal parasites that were probably common in the population of northern Roman Gaul and which are spread when sanitation is ineffective
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