Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel
Abstract Paleogenomic research can elucidate the evolutionary history of human and faunal populations. Although the Levant is a key land-bridge between Africa and Eurasia, thus far, relatively little ancient DNA data has been generated from this region, since DNA degrades faster in warm climates. As...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17399-2 |
| _version_ | 1811285906408079360 |
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| author | Viviane Slon Jamie L. Clark David E. Friesem Meir Orbach Naomi Porat Matthias Meyer Andrew W. Kandel Ron Shimelmitz |
| author_facet | Viviane Slon Jamie L. Clark David E. Friesem Meir Orbach Naomi Porat Matthias Meyer Andrew W. Kandel Ron Shimelmitz |
| author_sort | Viviane Slon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Paleogenomic research can elucidate the evolutionary history of human and faunal populations. Although the Levant is a key land-bridge between Africa and Eurasia, thus far, relatively little ancient DNA data has been generated from this region, since DNA degrades faster in warm climates. As sediments can be a source of ancient DNA, we analyzed 33 sediment samples from different sedimentological contexts in the Paleolithic layers of Sefunim Cave (Israel). Four contained traces of ancient Cervidae and Hyaenidae mitochondrial DNA. Dating by optical luminescence and radiocarbon indicates that the DNA comes from layers between 30,000 and 70,000 years old, surpassing theoretical expectations regarding the longevity of DNA deposited in such a warm environment. Both identified taxa are present in the zooarchaeological record of the site but have since gone extinct from the region, and a geoarchaeological study suggests little movement of the sediments after their deposition, lending further support to our findings. We provide details on the local conditions in the cave, which we hypothesize were particularly conducive to the long-term preservation of DNA—information that will be pertinent for future endeavors aimed at recovering ancient DNA from the Levant and other similarly challenging contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:51:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2889777c79146828b418f9effb97404 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2889777c79146828b418f9effb974042022-12-22T03:05:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-08-0112111610.1038/s41598-022-17399-2Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, IsraelViviane Slon0Jamie L. Clark1David E. Friesem2Meir Orbach3Naomi Porat4Matthias Meyer5Andrew W. Kandel6Ron Shimelmitz7Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason UniversityThe Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, Department of Maritime Civilizations, School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, University of HaifaZinman Institute of Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, University of HaifaGeological Survey of IsraelDepartment of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyThe Role of Culture in Early Expansions of Humans, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities at the University of TübingenZinman Institute of Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, University of HaifaAbstract Paleogenomic research can elucidate the evolutionary history of human and faunal populations. Although the Levant is a key land-bridge between Africa and Eurasia, thus far, relatively little ancient DNA data has been generated from this region, since DNA degrades faster in warm climates. As sediments can be a source of ancient DNA, we analyzed 33 sediment samples from different sedimentological contexts in the Paleolithic layers of Sefunim Cave (Israel). Four contained traces of ancient Cervidae and Hyaenidae mitochondrial DNA. Dating by optical luminescence and radiocarbon indicates that the DNA comes from layers between 30,000 and 70,000 years old, surpassing theoretical expectations regarding the longevity of DNA deposited in such a warm environment. Both identified taxa are present in the zooarchaeological record of the site but have since gone extinct from the region, and a geoarchaeological study suggests little movement of the sediments after their deposition, lending further support to our findings. We provide details on the local conditions in the cave, which we hypothesize were particularly conducive to the long-term preservation of DNA—information that will be pertinent for future endeavors aimed at recovering ancient DNA from the Levant and other similarly challenging contexts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17399-2 |
| spellingShingle | Viviane Slon Jamie L. Clark David E. Friesem Meir Orbach Naomi Porat Matthias Meyer Andrew W. Kandel Ron Shimelmitz Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel Scientific Reports |
| title | Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel |
| title_full | Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel |
| title_fullStr | Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel |
| title_short | Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel |
| title_sort | extended longevity of dna preservation in levantine paleolithic sediments sefunim cave israel |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17399-2 |
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