GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar"
Abstract The identification of the mammalian species based on faecal sediments in modern and ancient environments is the aim of the research of archaeologists, forensic scientists and ecologists. Here, we set up and validated an optimized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method, characte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32601-9 |
| _version_ | 1797850131152764928 |
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| author | Chiara Reggio Erika Palmisano Umberto Tecchiati Alessandro Ravelli Roberta F. Bergamaschi Paola Salzani Cristiano Putzolu Sara Casati Marica Orioli |
| author_facet | Chiara Reggio Erika Palmisano Umberto Tecchiati Alessandro Ravelli Roberta F. Bergamaschi Paola Salzani Cristiano Putzolu Sara Casati Marica Orioli |
| author_sort | Chiara Reggio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The identification of the mammalian species based on faecal sediments in modern and ancient environments is the aim of the research of archaeologists, forensic scientists and ecologists. Here, we set up and validated an optimized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method, characterized by a time-saving sample preparation protocol, for the simultaneous analysis of faecal biomarkers (6 sterols/stanols and 5 bile acids) in 14 soil samples from the archaeological site of “Le Colombare di Negrar” in northern Italy. Although the archaeological sediment samples examined are numerically exiguous, a comparative reading of our faecal biomarkers findings with new studies on faunal materials collected in the same stratigraphic detail during recent excavation campaigns will allow to better clarify the economic interest of the animal species farmed in the Colombare site (such as bovines, goats, sheep and pigs) and to shed light on the management of breeding. Together with archaeozoological and archaeobotanical analyses, the investigation of faecal biomarkers can increase our knowledge of how ancient local communities exploited natural resources and may allow us to deduce what their impact on the landscape was. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:55:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da166aa4d58c4357a6d77bedb8ff731c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:55:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-da166aa4d58c4357a6d77bedb8ff731c2023-04-09T11:13:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-32601-9GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar"Chiara Reggio0Erika Palmisano1Umberto Tecchiati2Alessandro Ravelli3Roberta F. Bergamaschi4Paola Salzani5Cristiano Putzolu6Sara Casati7Marica Orioli8Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Sapienza Università di RomaDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di MilanoDipartimento di Beni culturali e ambientali, PrEcLab–Laboratorio di Preistoria, Protostoria ed Ecologia Preistorica, Università degli Studi di MilanoDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di MilanoDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di MilanoMinistero della Cultura, Soprintendenza archeologia, belle arti paesaggio per le Province di Verona, Rovigo e VicenzaDipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di BolognaDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di MilanoDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi di MilanoAbstract The identification of the mammalian species based on faecal sediments in modern and ancient environments is the aim of the research of archaeologists, forensic scientists and ecologists. Here, we set up and validated an optimized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method, characterized by a time-saving sample preparation protocol, for the simultaneous analysis of faecal biomarkers (6 sterols/stanols and 5 bile acids) in 14 soil samples from the archaeological site of “Le Colombare di Negrar” in northern Italy. Although the archaeological sediment samples examined are numerically exiguous, a comparative reading of our faecal biomarkers findings with new studies on faunal materials collected in the same stratigraphic detail during recent excavation campaigns will allow to better clarify the economic interest of the animal species farmed in the Colombare site (such as bovines, goats, sheep and pigs) and to shed light on the management of breeding. Together with archaeozoological and archaeobotanical analyses, the investigation of faecal biomarkers can increase our knowledge of how ancient local communities exploited natural resources and may allow us to deduce what their impact on the landscape was.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32601-9 |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Reggio Erika Palmisano Umberto Tecchiati Alessandro Ravelli Roberta F. Bergamaschi Paola Salzani Cristiano Putzolu Sara Casati Marica Orioli GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" Scientific Reports |
| title | GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" |
| title_full | GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" |
| title_fullStr | GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" |
| title_full_unstemmed | GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" |
| title_short | GC–MS analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site "Le Colombare di Negrar" |
| title_sort | gc ms analysis of soil faecal biomarkers uncovers mammalian species and the economic management of the archeological site le colombare di negrar |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32601-9 |
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