Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis
Abstract The sex profile estimation of pre-historic communities is often complicated by the commingled and scattered nature of skeletal assemblages. Demographic profiles are usually lacking and provide very truncated representations of these populations but proteomic analysis of sex-specific ameloge...
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Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47037-4 |
| _version_ | 1827723336727134208 |
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| author | Raquel Granja Ana Cristina Araújo Federico Lugli Sara Silvestrini Ana Maria Silva David Gonçalves |
| author_facet | Raquel Granja Ana Cristina Araújo Federico Lugli Sara Silvestrini Ana Maria Silva David Gonçalves |
| author_sort | Raquel Granja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The sex profile estimation of pre-historic communities is often complicated by the commingled and scattered nature of skeletal assemblages. Demographic profiles are usually lacking and provide very truncated representations of these populations but proteomic analysis of sex-specific amelogenin peptides in tooth enamel brings new promise to these studies. The main objective was to obtain the sex profile of the human assemblage recovered from the Neolithic cave-necropolis of Escoural (Montemor-o-Novo, southern Portugal) through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secondary objective was to analyse sex-specific linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH), and to test the reliability of canine odontometric sex estimation. Sex estimation through peptide analysis was carried out in 36 left permanent canines which were macroscopically examined for the presence of LEH. The canine buccolingual diameter was used for odontometric sex estimation. The obtained sex ratio (0.5:1, M:F) is biased to female individuals, probably due to cultural factors since the natural sex ratio of the human population falls between 0.95:1 and 1.02:1 (M:F). A high frequency of LEH was observed, but with no significant sexual differences (p = 0.554). The mean LEH age of onset occurred at 3 years of age, with no significant differences between the sexes (p = 0.116), and was possibly related to the weaning process. Odontometric sex estimation revealed a correct classification of 80%, with a high number of males mistakenly attributed to females. This study is one of the largest samples subjected to peptide analysis, and thus demonstrates its usefulness on the research of commingled and scattered skeletal assemblages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:58:52Z |
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| id | doaj.art-d734fa8fb41b48f6a096953d193af3dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:58:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d734fa8fb41b48f6a096953d193af3dc2023-11-19T13:02:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-0113111310.1038/s41598-023-47037-4Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysisRaquel Granja0Ana Cristina Araújo1Federico Lugli2Sara Silvestrini3Ana Maria Silva4David Gonçalves5Laboratory of Archaeosciences (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Direção-Geral do Património CulturalLaboratory of Archaeosciences (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Direção-Geral do Património CulturalDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaBONES Lab, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of BolognaResearch Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of CoimbraLaboratory of Archaeosciences (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Direção-Geral do Património CulturalAbstract The sex profile estimation of pre-historic communities is often complicated by the commingled and scattered nature of skeletal assemblages. Demographic profiles are usually lacking and provide very truncated representations of these populations but proteomic analysis of sex-specific amelogenin peptides in tooth enamel brings new promise to these studies. The main objective was to obtain the sex profile of the human assemblage recovered from the Neolithic cave-necropolis of Escoural (Montemor-o-Novo, southern Portugal) through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secondary objective was to analyse sex-specific linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH), and to test the reliability of canine odontometric sex estimation. Sex estimation through peptide analysis was carried out in 36 left permanent canines which were macroscopically examined for the presence of LEH. The canine buccolingual diameter was used for odontometric sex estimation. The obtained sex ratio (0.5:1, M:F) is biased to female individuals, probably due to cultural factors since the natural sex ratio of the human population falls between 0.95:1 and 1.02:1 (M:F). A high frequency of LEH was observed, but with no significant sexual differences (p = 0.554). The mean LEH age of onset occurred at 3 years of age, with no significant differences between the sexes (p = 0.116), and was possibly related to the weaning process. Odontometric sex estimation revealed a correct classification of 80%, with a high number of males mistakenly attributed to females. This study is one of the largest samples subjected to peptide analysis, and thus demonstrates its usefulness on the research of commingled and scattered skeletal assemblages.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47037-4 |
| spellingShingle | Raquel Granja Ana Cristina Araújo Federico Lugli Sara Silvestrini Ana Maria Silva David Gonçalves Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis Scientific Reports |
| title | Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis |
| title_full | Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis |
| title_fullStr | Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis |
| title_short | Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis |
| title_sort | unbalanced sex ratio in the neolithic individuals from the escoural cave montemor o novo portugal revealed by peptide analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47037-4 |
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