The last meal of Tollund Man: new analyses of his gut content

Nielsen, Nina Helt; Henriksen, Peter Steen; Mortensen, Morten Fischer; Enevold, Renée; Mortensen, Martin; Scavenius, Carsten; Enghild, Jan J.

doi:10.15184/aqy.2021.98

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…LC–MS/MS analyses of these remarkably preserved foods yielded proteins not only integral to the food itself but also provided insights into the fermentation of these foods by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, providing an unprecedented glimpse at prehistoric culinary technologies. Other examples of ancient foods directly analyzed by proteomics include gut content studies of unusually preserved corpses, such the Tyrolean Iceman Ötzi, an Alpine glacier mummy dating to the Chalcolithic, and Tollund Man, an exceptionally well preserved bog body from the Danish Early Iron Age …”

Section: Applications In Paleoproteomicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other examples of ancient foods directly analyzed by proteomics include gut content studies of unusually preserved corpses, such the Tyrolean Iceman O ̈tzi, an Alpine glacier mummy dating to the Chalcolithic, 420 and Tollund Man, an exceptionally well preserved bog body from the Danish Early Iron Age. 470 3.3.3. Infections and Diseased Tissues.…”

Section: Metaproteomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paleoproteomics

2022

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Paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins, is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of molecular biology, paleontology, archaeology, paleoecology, and history. Paleoproteomics research leverages the longevity and diversity of proteins to explore fundamental questions about the past. While its origins predate the characterization of DNA, it was only with the advent of soft ionization mass spectrometry that the study of ancient proteins became truly feasible. Technological gains over the past 20 years have allowed increasing opportunities to better understand preservation, degradation, and recovery of the rich bioarchive of ancient proteins found in the archaeological and paleontological records. Growing from a handful of studies in the 1990s on individual highly abundant ancient proteins, paleoproteomics today is an expanding field with diverse applications ranging from the taxonomic identification of highly fragmented bones and shells and the phylogenetic resolution of extinct species to the exploration of past cuisines from dental calculus and pottery food crusts and the characterization of past diseases. More broadly, these studies have opened new doors in understanding past human−animal interactions, the reconstruction of past environments and environmental changes, the expansion of the hominin fossil record through large scale screening of nondiagnostic bone fragments, and the phylogenetic resolution of the vertebrate fossil record. Even with these advances, much of the ancient proteomic record still remains unexplored. Here we provide an overview of the history of the field, a summary of the major methods and applications currently in use, and a critical evaluation of current challenges. We conclude by looking to the future, for which innovative solutions and emerging technology will play an important role in enabling us to access the still unexplored "dark" proteome, allowing for a fuller understanding of the role ancient proteins can play in the interpretation of the past.

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Section: Applications In Paleoproteomicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Metaproteomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproteomics

2022

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“…However, the C. album seeds in the stomach contents were found together with other weed species seeds, charcoal and sand, indicating that they represent threshing waste rather than deliberately cultivated plants. The weed seeds could be a part of the staple food, but it is more likely that they represent a rare occasion, where the seeds were consumed for ritual purposes in connection with human sacrifice [ 50 ]. In summary, the prehistoric transitions from hunter–gatherer cultures to farming Neolithic cultures show a global pattern of a funneling from the use of numerous wild plant species to a gradual decline in the number of plant species exploited by humans.…”

Section: Another Brick In the Wall: The Knowledge Gap Of Semi-domesti...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric Plant Exploitation and Domestication: An Inspiration for the Science of De Novo Domestication in Present Times

Hebelstrup

Azariadis

Cordes

et al. 2023

Plants

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De novo domestication is a novel trend in plant genetics, where traits of wild or semi-wild species are changed by the use of modern precision breeding techniques so that they conform to modern cultivation. Out of more than 300,000 wild plant species, only a few were fully domesticated by humans in prehistory. Moreover, out of these few domesticated species, less than 10 species dominate world agricultural production by more than 80% today. Much of this limited diversity of crop exploitation by modern humans was defined early in prehistory at the emergence of sedentary agro-pastoral cultures that limited the number of crops evolving a favorable domestication syndrome. However, modern plant genetics have revealed the roadmaps of genetic changes that led to these domestication traits. Based on such observations, plant scientists are now taking steps towards using modern breeding technologies to explore the potential of de novo domestication of plant species that were neglected in the past. We suggest here that in this process of de novo domestication, the study of Late Paleolithic/Late Archaic and Early Neolithic/Early Formative exploration of wild plants and identification of neglected species can help identify the barriers towards domestication. Modern breeding technologies may then assist us to break these barriers in order to perform de novo domestication to increase the crop species diversity of modern agriculture.

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“…As will be discussed later in more detail, enzymatic activity is a key factor in the decomposition of a corpse. For catalyzation of enzymes, most require an aqueous median (Nielsen et al 2021). This means when a body is in an environment that provides opportunity for quick dehydration, it can cause the cessation of enzymatic activity before decomposition can occur.…”

Section: Natural Preservation Of Human Remainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Methods for Establishing Time of Death when Dealing with Natural Mummification from Bog Environments

Mula

2023

SAJA

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Natural mummies are human and animal remains that have been naturally preserved over time. In most cases, these mummies are formed through a combination of environmental factors such as the soil's chemical makeup, temperature, and humidity. One of the most well-known, yet uncommon, examples of natural mummies are those found in bogs, wetland environments characterized by low oxygen levels and acidic water. Mummies discovered in these bog environments will be the focus of this paper. It will discuss the challenges associated with establishing the time of death for natural mummies. Various factors influence the mummification process including the acidity of the water, temperature, and the presence of microorganisms. As a result, traditional methods of estimating the time of death, or post-mortem interval (PMI), may not be reliable. This paper will also review recent advances in the field, including but not limited to stable isotope analysis, DNA sequencing, and proteomics. This will allow researchers to understand the taphonomic processes at play and improve the accuracy of time of death estimations. Overall, this paper provides practical insights into the complex processes involved in determining the time of death in natural mummies and offers information about new technologies useful for researchers in this field.

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The last meal of Tollund Man: new analyses of his gut content

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 13 publications

References 11 publications

Paleoproteomics

Paleoproteomics

Prehistoric Plant Exploitation and Domestication: An Inspiration for the Science of De Novo Domestication in Present Times

New Methods for Establishing Time of Death when Dealing with Natural Mummification from Bog Environments

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