ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Frozen plant remains
;
grasses
;
plant pathogenic fungi
;
Tyrolean Iceman
;
ancient DNA
;
Neolithic
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The paper reports on the molecular analysis of samples of approximately 5,300-year-old grass found at the alpine archaeological site where the so-called Tyrolean Iceman was discovered. The grass comes from a ‘cloak’ made of long grass blades and/or the stuffing of the ‘snow footwear’ worn by the Iceman. The results show that while the largest fraction of the DNA extractable from the grass is of ‘foreign’ origin, a much smaller part belongs to the original genetic material of the grass itself, and can be used as a valuable taxonomic clue to the plant species utilized by neolithic men to manufacture their equipment. On the other hand, the ‘foreign’ DNA, or at least a portion of it, comes from microorganisms-mainly filamentous fungi and unicellular algae-which seem to have been associated with the grass since the time the grass was harvested.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01921728
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