Correlation Between14C Ages and Aspartic Acid Racemization at the Upper Palaeolithic Site of the Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Mansouri, Mouhsin El; Fouikar, Abderrahmane El; Saint-Martin, Bernard

doi:10.1006/jasc.1996.0075

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, only the more significant age determinations at each level on bones, burnt bones, charcoals, bulk sediments, and ashes are introduced here (Bricker, 1995;Bricker and Mellars, 1987;Gowlett et al, 1987;Movius, 1977;Vogel and Waterbolk, 1963, 1967, 1972. Other ages were obtained by the racemization ratios of aspartic acid in fossil bones (Bricker, 1995;El Mansouri, 1995;El Mansouri et al, 1996). This robust chronological frame based on 15 ages (Table 2) allows us to firmly constrain the chronology of the Aurignacian to Solutrean from ca.…”

Section: Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Marquer

Otto

Nespoulet

et al. 2010

Journal of Archaeological Science

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Section: Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Marquer

Otto

Nespoulet

et al. 2010

Journal of Archaeological Science

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“…The analysis of insoluble (or high molecular weight) extracts, which is being promoted as a re¢nement to the Asx dating in bone, may hold some promise (e.g. Julg et al 1987;Elster et al 1991;El Mansouri et al 1996). However the method would be readily compromised by processes (such as condensation reactions; Collins et al 1992) which retain denatured peptides within the insoluble residue.…”

Section: Asx Racemization In Archaeological Bone and Dentinementioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting protein decomposition: the case of aspartic–acid racemization kinetics

Collins

Waite

Duin

1999

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B

154

107

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The increase in proportion of the non-biological (D-) isomer of aspartic acid (Asp) relative to the Lisomer has been widely used in archaeology and geochemistry as a tool for dating. The method has proved controversial, particularly when used for bones. The non-linear kinetics of Asp racemization have prompted a number of suggestions as to the underlying mechanism(s) and have led to the use of mathematical transformations which linearize the increase in D-Asp with respect to time. Using one example, a suggestion that the initial rapid phase of Asp racemization is due to a contribution from asparagine (Asn), we demonstrate how a simple model of the degradation and racemization of Asn can be used to predict the observed kinetics. A more complex model of peptide bound Asx (Asn + Asp) racemization, which occurs via the formation of a cyclic succinimide (Asu), can be used to correctly predict Asx racemization kinetics in proteins at high temperatures (95^140 8C). The model fails to predict racemization kinetics in dentine collagen at 37 8C. The reason for this is that Asu formation is highly conformation dependent and is predicted to occur extremely slowly in triple helical collagen. As conformation strongly in£uences the rate of Asu formation and hence Asx racemization, the use of extrapolation from high temperatures to estimate racemization kinetics of Asx in proteins below their denaturation temperature is called into question.In the case of archaeological bone, we argue that the D:L ratio of Asx re£ects the proportion of nonhelical to helical collagen, overlain by the e¡ects of leaching of more soluble (and conformationally unconstrained) peptides. Thus, racemization kinetics in bone are potentially unpredictable, and the proposed use of Asx racemization to estimate the extent of DNA depurination in archaeological bones is challenged.

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“…Note the L-shaped nature of the plot, as seen also in (c). Data from: filled diamond,Hare (1980); filled triangle,Kessels & Dugworth (1980); open circle,Lajoie et al (1980); filled circle,Prior et al (1986); open diamond,Taylor et al (1989); open triangle, ElMansouri et al (1996). Two values that fall outside this trend are from arid environments: (1) Egyptian mummy; (2) Buhen Horse Sudan.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Is amino acid racemization a useful tool for screening for ancient DNA in bone?

et al. 2009

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Many rare and valuable ancient specimens now carry the scars of ancient DNA research, as questions of population genetics and phylogeography require larger sample sets. This fuels the demand for reliable techniques to screen for DNA preservation prior to destructive sampling. Only one such technique has been widely adopted: the extent of aspartic acid racemization (AAR). The kinetics of AAR are believed to be similar to the rate of DNA depurination and therefore a good measure of the likelihood of DNA survival. Moreover, AAR analysis is only minimally destructive. We report the first comprehensive test of AAR using 91 bone and teeth samples from temperate and high-latitude sites that were analysed for DNA. While the AAR range of all specimens was low (0.02–0.17), no correlation was found between the extent of AAR and DNA amplification success. Additional heating experiments and surveys of the literature indicated that d/l Asx is low in bones until almost all the collagen is lost. This is because aspartic acid is retained in the bone within the constrained environment of the collagen triple helix, where it cannot racemize for steric reasons. Only if the helix denatures to soluble gelatin can Asx racemize readily, but this soluble gelatine is readily lost in most burial environments. We conclude that Asx d/l is not a useful screening technique for ancient DNA from bone.

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Correlation Between14C Ages and Aspartic Acid Racemization at the Upper Palaeolithic Site of the Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Cited by 14 publications

References 10 publications

A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Predicting protein decomposition: the case of aspartic–acid racemization kinetics

Is amino acid racemization a useful tool for screening for ancient DNA in bone?

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