Challenge to molecular archaeology—Sediments contaminated by allochthonous animal proteins

Pavelka, Jaroslav; Šmejda, Ladislav; Kučková, Štěpánka; Menšík, Petr

doi:10.1080/10826076.2020.1838925

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The samples from KE4 were also analyzed using immunological tests for the detection of denatured proteins. This methodology has been successfully tested many times [ 28 , 29 ] and was also used as a control for mass spectrometric data [ 23 ]. The sample KE4-2, with a high concentration of cholesterol, provided a positive reaction for porcine proteins.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a positive reaction was also found in the reference sample KE4-5. Based on these results, contamination tests were performed for porcine proteins [ 29 ]. The contamination tests pointed to different origins for the porcine proteins in samples KE4-2 and KE4-5.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of the test for the presence of pork, the samples were boiled for the second replication and compared with the results from the previous (the first) replication; thus, possible contamination from the non-boiled proteins could be detected. Contamination by non-boiled proteins is usually caused by midgut mucosa that is present in animal feces [ 29 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What about Dinner? Chemical and Microresidue Analysis Reveals the Function of Late Neolithic Ceramic Pans

Beneš

Todoroska²,

Budilová

et al. 2021

Molecules

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The Late Neolithic palafitte site, Ustie na Drim, in the northern part of Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia), excavated in 1962, offered ceramic fragments of large, flat, elongated pans. These artifacts could be dated by relative chronology to roughly around 5200–5000 BC. According to their shape and technological traits, the ceramic pans were probably used for baking. The attached materials on the surface of studied pan fragments were sampled for consequent chemical and microscopical analyses (i.e., analyses of starch, phytoliths, and microscopic animal remains). An immunological method revealed the presence of pork proteins in samples. The presence of organic residues of animal origin was, moreover, confirmed by the detection of cholesterol using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Analysis of detected microscopic botanical objects revealed starch grains of several plants (i.e., oak, cattail, and grasses). An interesting find was the hair of a beetle larva, which could be interpreted contextually as the khapra beetle, a pest of grain and flour. Based on our data, we suppose that the ceramic pans from Ustie na Drim were used for the preparation of meals containing meat from common livestock in combination with cereals and wild plants.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What about Dinner? Chemical and Microresidue Analysis Reveals the Function of Late Neolithic Ceramic Pans

Beneš

Todoroska²,

Budilová

et al. 2021

Molecules

Self Cite

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“…And last, researchers need to be mindful of the limitations of the various approaches. For instance, that morphometrics alone do not indicate actual past function, 28,43 that macro‐fracture analysis requires caution, 33,49 and that “automated” molecular methods such as proteomics are both destructive and often unable to distinguish contaminants from real use residues 78 …”

Section: How Do We Move Forward?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Pleistocene Africans use the spearthrower‐and‐dart?

Lombard

Shea

2021

Evolutionary Anthropology

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Archeologists commonly suppose that among complex projectile weapons humans use as subsistence aids, the spearthrower‐and‐dart preceded bow‐and‐arrow use. And yet, neither ethnographic nor archeological records furnish any robust evidence for spearthrower‐and‐dart use in Africa. Instead, evidence grows apace for ever‐more ancient bow‐and‐arrow use. Here we explore these findings and their implications for models of early Homo sapiens behavior.

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