Protein and DNA from Ancient Bones and Stone Tool Residues

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，劳埃德·雷姆博士和他的合作者将开发一种技术来提取和识别保存在史前石器上的DNA，这些石器曾被用来屠宰动物。在初步工作中，Ream博士已经证明，在石器制造过程中产生的微裂纹将血液蛋白质和DNA捕获在工具表面下140微米以上。这些残留物不能通过表面清洗去除，因此有可能保存很长一段时间。超声处理可以释放60%至80%的捕获DNA，并使其可用于鉴定。该团队将建立在这一初步研究和：1。将联合收割机整合成一个精简的程序，建立了从石器中回收和分析古代蛋白质和DNA的方法; 2.通过比较蛋白质和DNA同时分析的结果来测试这些方法的重复性和灵敏度：3.将骨骼中DNA和蛋白质的保存情况联系起来，并利用这些数据推断同一地层石器上残留物的可能状况;确定现代来源的蛋白质和DNA是否污染了相关沉积物、未经改造的石头和石器;以及6.将考古背景、沉积速率和标本年龄与蛋白质和DNA的保存相关联。如果成功，该项目将有助于确定参数，包括标本处理程序和必要的控制样品，这对研究任何考古遗址或博物馆收藏的石器上的蛋白质和DNA残留物至关重要。为了实现这一目标，该小组将分析来自Bugas Holding和Hell Gap考古遗址的石器和动物遗迹。他们一起涵盖了一个时期，从CA。1,200到10,000年前，不仅在年龄上，而且在沉积条件上都有变化。在许多考古遗址中，石器是主要的考古材料，因此研究人员花费了相当大的精力从石器中提取最大数量的信息。根据工具形式来确定用途和Ream博士的技术通常是极其困难或不可能的，如果成功的话将使人们能够了解特定工具是否用于狩猎或屠宰猎物。它也有可能确定动物的种类，这一点很重要，因为动物遗骸保存得很差，在许多地点往往完全被毁。如果成功开发，这些技术将为考古学家提供一个强大的新工具，可以在世界上许多时期和许多地区使用。

With National Science Foundation support Dr. Lloyd Ream and his collaborators will develop a technique to extract and identify DNA preserved on prehistoric stone tools which were used to butcher animals. In preliminary work, Dr. Ream has demonstrated that microcracks produced during stone tool manufacture trap blood proteins and DNA more than 140 microns beneath the tool surface. These residues are not removed by surface washing and thus have the possibility of preservation for significant periods of time. Sonication can release 60 to 80% of the trapped DNA and make it available for identification. The team will build on this preliminary research and: 1. Combine into a streamlined procedure established methods for recovery and analysis of ancient proteins and DNA from stone tools; 2. Test the reproducibility and sensitivity of these methods by comparing the results of simultaneous protein and DNA analyses: 3. Correlate preservation of DNA and protein in bone, and use these data to infer probably condition of residues on stone tools from the same stratum; 4. Determine whether protein and DNA from modern sources contaminate associated sediments, unmodified stone and stone tools; and 6. Correlate archaeological context, deposition rate, and specimen age with preservation of protein and DNA. If successful, the project will help to define parameters, including specimen handling procedures and requisite control samples important for study of protein and DNA residues on stone tools from any archaeological site or museum collection. To accomplish this goal the team will analyze both lithics and faunal remains from the Bugas-Holding and Hell Gap archaeological sites. Together they cover a period from ca. 1,200 to 10,000 years ago and vary not only in age but also in depositional conditions. The sites are well excavated and provide an excellent context within which to develop these techniques.In many archaeological sites, stone tools constitute the primary class of material recovered and researchers therefore expend considerable effort in extracting the maximum amount of information from them. It is often extremely difficult or impossible based on tool form to determine use and Dr. Ream's technique, if successful will allow one to learn whether a specific implement was used to hunt or butcher game. It also has the potential to identify the species of animal and this is important because faunal remains are poorly preserved and often completely destroyed in many sites. If successfully developed these techniques will provide archaeologists with a powerful new tool which can be used in many time periods and many regions of the world.