Ancient DNA from mastics solidifies connection between material culture and genetics of mesolithic hunter–gatherers in Scandinavia

Abstract

Human demography research in grounded on the information derived from ancient DNA and archaeology. For example, the study on the early postglacial dual-route colonisation of the Scandinavian Peninsula is largely based on associating genomic data with the early dispersal of lithic technology from the East European Plain. However, a clear connection between material culture and genetics has been lacking. Here, we demonstrate that direct connection by analysing human DNA from chewed birch bark pitch mastics. These samples were discovered at Huseby Klev in western Sweden, a Mesolithic site with eastern lithic technology. We generated genome-wide data for three individuals, and show their affinity to the Scandinavian hunter–gatherers. Our samples date to 9880-9540 calBP, expanding the temporal range and distribution of the early Scandinavian genetic group. We propose that DNA from ancient mastics can be used to study environment and ecology of prehistoric populations.

Skin colour and vitamin D: An update

“…[11] For example, the derived allele of the SNP rs12785878 results in reduced expression of the DHCR7 gene causing increased concentrations of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin and more efficient synthesis of vitamin D 3 . [86] The SNP is and complemented with recent data, [55,56,58,[67][68][69]108] in order to create the map of migration and admixture of populations in Europe since the arrival of homo sapiens some 40 000 years ago. Phenotype information was retrieved from supplementary files of the according publications or additionally assessed following the instructions of HirisPlex-S (https:// hiris plex.erasm usmc.nl), which is a forensic DNA phenotyping tool based on an array of different marker SNPs providing additional support to the SNPs of the genes SLC24A5, SLC45A2 and OCA2.…”

An integrated analysis of Maglemose bone points reframes the Early Mesolithic of Southern Scandinavia

“…Most recently, re-analyses of lithic remains attributed to the oldest sequence at Huseby Klev (deep pit) revealed the presence of pressure blade technologies, which are securely dated to the hiatus and the subsequent decades (10,040-9610 cal BP). Moreover, the same study also reported on aDNA extracted from chewed birch pitch revealing that the individuals were of genetically admixed ancestry 77 . This novel lithic technology coupled with a changed bone point morphology and the pattern of radiocarbon dates from Western Sweden and Central Scandinavia 78 favours the spread of this technology through Scania and into present-day Denmark.…”

Reproducible, portable, and efficient ancient genome reconstruction with nf-core/eager

“…Ancient DNA (aDNA) has become a widely accepted source of biological data, helping to provide new perspectives for a range of fields including archaeology, cultural heritage, evolutionary biology, ecology, and palaeontology. The utilisation of short-read high-throughput sequencing has allowed the recovery of whole genomes and genome-wide data from a wide variety of sources, including (but not limited to), the skeletal remains of animals [1,2,3,4], modern and archaic humans [5,6,7,8], bacteria [9,10,11], viruses [12,13], plants [14,15], palaeofaeces [16,17], dental calculus [18,19], sediments [20,21], medical slides [22], parchment [23], and recently, ancient ‘chewing gum’ [24,25]. Improvement in laboratory protocols to increase yields of otherwise trace amounts of DNA has at the same time led to studies that can total hundreds of ancient individuals [26,27], spanning single [28] to thousands of organisms [18].…”