Phylogenetic Position of a Copper Age Sheep (Ovis aries) Mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

BackgroundSheep (Ovis aries) were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent region about 9,000-8,000 years ago. Currently, few mitochondrial (mt) DNA studies are available on archaeological sheep. In particular, no data on archaeological European sheep are available.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we describe the first portion of mtDNA sequence of a Copper Age European sheep. DNA was extracted from hair shafts which were part of the clothes of the so-called Tyrolean Iceman or Ötzi (5,350 - 5,100 years before present). Mitochondrial DNA (a total of 2,429 base pairs, encompassing a portion of the control region, tRNAPhe, a portion of the 12S rRNA gene, and the whole cytochrome B gene) was sequenced using a mixed sequencing procedure based on PCR amplification and 454 sequencing of pooled amplification products. We have compared the sequence with the corresponding sequence of 334 extant lineages.Conclusions/SignificanceA phylogenetic network based on a new cladistic notation for the mitochondrial diversity of domestic sheep shows that the Ötzi's sheep falls within haplogroup B, thus demonstrating that sheep belonging to this haplogroup were already present in the Alps more than 5,000 years ago. On the other hand, the lineage of the Ötzi's sheep is defined by two transitions (16147, and 16440) which, assembled together, define a motif that has not yet been identified in modern sheep populations.

Approaching sheep herds origins and the emergence of the wool economy in continental Europe during the Bronze Age

“…The earliest samples so far analysed from Europe derive from sheep hair from the skin garments of the Copper Age Iceman Otzi (c. 3350-3120 BCE), who was found extremely well-preserved in a glacier on the border between Austria andItaly in 1991 (Egg andSpindler 2009;O'Sullivan et al 2016;Olivieri et al 2012). The permafrozen layer in which the Iceman was preserved provided highly favourable conditions for DNA preservation.…”

“…Becker et al 2016;Benecke 1994;Greenfield 2014). In recent times, new possibilities for investigating prehistoric sheep have become available, thanks to advances in aDNA analyses (Brandt 2014;Niemi et al 2013;O'Sullivan et al 2016;Olivieri et al 2012;Rannamäe et al 2016a;Rannamäe et al 2016b). We here present and discuss some of the main results from each of these disciplines relating to the study of sheep and sheep fleece.…”

“…Genetic population studies of sheep have so far had a main focus on modern sheep, and in particular on analyses of their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), revealing a great complexity and intense breeding throughout history (Alberto et al 2018;Fernández et al 2006;Guo et al 2005;Hiendleder et al 1998a;Hiendleder et al 1998b;Larson et al 2007;Larson et al 2005;Luikart et al 2001;Meadows et al 2007;Pedrosa et al 2005;Tapio et al 2006;Wood and Phua 1996). Recently, analyses of mtDNA have been conducted on prehistoric sheep bone samples as well (Demirci et al 2013;Niemi et al 2013;O'Sullivan et al 2016;Olivieri et al 2012;Rannamäe et al 2016a;Rannamäe et al 2016b), confirming that breeding was commonly practised in early times.…”

Three Thousand Years of Continuity in the Maternal Lineages of Ancient Sheep (Ovis aries) in Estonia

“…[ 49 , 51 – 52 ]. All five haplogroups have also been detected in ancient populations [ 10 , 16 , 43 – 45 , 53 – 58 ].…”

A whole mitochondria analysis of the Tyrolean Iceman’s leather provides insights into the animal sources of Copper Age clothing

“…Finally, the restoration process or the freeze-drying of the leather may have leached away identifying biological markers 11 . Recently, PCR based genetic analyses of hair shafts, recovered from more recent excavations of the Iceman find site have succeeded in further characterising the clothes; providing a species identification and even comparative phylogenies with modern populations 13 14 . These samples are however, unfortunately not directly associated with particular parts of the Iceman’s clothing, and as such lack this critical piece of information for the evaluation of material usage by Copper Age individuals.…”