The identification of prehistoric dairying activities in the Western Isles of Scotland: an integrated biomolecular approach

Craig, Oliver E.; Taylor, Gillian; Mulville, Jacqui; Collins, Matthew J.; Pearson, Mike Parker

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2004.06.009

Cited by 64 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Using this method, the processing of milk has been identified in the western part of the present day Turkey as early as 8500 BP [40]. Similarly, evidence for the use of dairy products has been shown in Neolithic sites of Romania and Hungary around 7900-7450 BP [39], Britain around 6100 BP [86] and Scotland around 3000 BP [87]. Thus, the archaeozoological and residual lipid data clearly indicate that dairying was practised early in Neolithic Europe.…”

Section: Lactase Persistence the Neolithic Transition And The Histormentioning

confidence: 81%

Evolution of lactase persistence: an example of human niche construction

Gerbault

Liebert

Itan

et al. 2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

366

272

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Niche construction is the process by which organisms construct important components of their local environment in ways that introduce novel selection pressures. Lactase persistence is one of the clearest examples of niche construction in humans. Lactase is the enzyme responsible for the digestion of the milk sugar lactose and its production decreases after the weaning phase in most mammals, including most humans. Some humans, however, continue to produce lactase throughout adulthood, a trait known as lactase persistence. In European populations, a single mutation (213910*T ) explains the distribution of the phenotype, whereas several mutations are associated with it in Africa and the Middle East. Current estimates for the age of lactase persistence-associated alleles bracket those for the origins of animal domestication and the culturally transmitted practice of dairying. We report new data on the distribution of 213910*T and summarize genetic studies on the diversity of lactase persistence worldwide. We review relevant archaeological data and describe three simulation studies that have shed light on the evolution of this trait in Europe. These studies illustrate how genetic and archaeological information can be integrated to bring new insights to the origins and spread of lactase persistence. Finally, we discuss possible improvements to these models.

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Section: Lactase Persistence the Neolithic Transition And The Histormentioning

confidence: 81%

Evolution of lactase persistence: an example of human niche construction

Gerbault

Liebert

Itan

et al. 2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

366

272

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“…A typical gas chromatogram of archeological-degraded animal fats extracted from a ceramic vessel is shown in Figure 5. Degradation products specific to particular treatments or native precursors were also identified in several cases (Evershed et al, , 2002Raven et al, 1997;Copley et al, 2004;Hansel et al, 2004;Craig et al, 2005a).…”

Section: Molecular Criteria To Identify Animal Fatsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Although described in several articles, the most complete description of the procedure is presented by Charters et al (1995). It is now currently used in various laboratories, sometimes with minor modifications (Kimpe, Jacobs, & Waelkens, 2001Regert et al, 2003a,b;Craig et al, 2005a;Mirabaud, Regert, & Rolando, 2007;Ribechini et al, 2008a).…”

Section: B Samples and Sampling Protocolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This method opened up considerable opportunities to precisely identify a wide range of substances, making it possible to distinguish subcutaneous animal fats from dairy products and to assess the specific origin of certain fats (Evershed et al, 1997b;Stott et al, 1997;Evershed et al, 2002;Copley et al, 2003Copley et al, , 2005aSpangenberg, 2004;Craig et al, 2005a;Spangenberg, Jacomet, & Schibler, 2006;Evershed et al, 2008b;Spangenberg et al, 2008). In all of these articles, the results were systematically obtained by combining molecular and carbon isotopic compositions of biomarkers and degradation markers identified in absorbed and/or charred surface residues.…”

Section: Combining Molecular and Isotopic Compositionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C values (Dudd, Evershed, & Gibson, 1999;Mottram et al, 1999;Copley et al, 2003;Spangenberg, 2004;Craig et al, 2005a;Spangenberg, Jacomet, & Schibler, 2006). FAME preparation is carried out on a portion of the total lipid extract, typically 1/4 (Copley et al, 2005c) beginning with hydrolysis with methanolic or ethanolic sodium or potassium hydroxide Spangenberg, Jacomet, & Schibler, 2006) to release fatty acid moieties from MAGs, DAGs, and TAGs, and from possibly other bound lipids .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Analytical strategies for discriminating archeological fatty substances from animal origin

Regert

2011

Mass Spectrometry Reviews

156

104

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Mass spectrometry (MS) is an essential tool in the field of biomolecular archeology to characterize amorphous organic residues preserved in ancient ceramic vessels. Animal fats of various nature and origin, namely subcutaneous fats of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and also of dairy products, are those most commonly identified in organic residues in archeological pottery. Fats and oils of marine origin have also been revealed. Since the first applications of MS coupled with gas chromatography (GC) in archeology at the end of 1980s, several developments have occurred, including isotopic determinations by GC coupled to isotope ratio MS and identification of triacylglycerols (TAGs) structure by soft ionization techniques (ESI and APCI). The combination of these methods provides invaluable insights into the strategies of exploitation of animal products in prehistory. In this review, I focus on the analytical strategies based upon MS that allow elucidation of the structure of biomolecular constituents and determination of their isotopic values to identify the nature of animal fat components preserved in highly complex and degraded archeological matrices.

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