Priscila Ortiz
1206056549
The article, “RNA Helps Resurrect Ancient DNA”, elaborates on a new cost-effective
way to test human DNA samples. Most pure samples of human DNA can only be retrieved from
ancient remains that were frozen for most of the time. However, most ancient remains found
have experienced warm soil that harbors bacteria. That bacteria tampers with the human DNA
and makes it difficult to analyze since there is little pure human DNA left. It is still possible to
test the small samples, but it is really expensive. Carlos Bustamante developed a new method
that would purify the samples before they are run through the machines, which saves a vast
amount of money.
In class we touched on the topic of domestication and how humans started taking control
of their environment. It relates because this new method can further advance the study of the
genomics of domestication. Domesticated plants and animals develop different traits that
separate them from their wild counterparts. Domestication leads to genetic changes and with this
new method pinpointing the exact migration patterns of ancient civilizations.
The new method presents new information on samples that were small and too expensive
to test. This method can also help narrow where the ancient remains came from and help settle
arguments in the archeological community. For example, the team tried their methods on a
Peruvian mummy and discovered that its origin was in fact not European like some Spanish
explorers had claimed. Like the Peruvian mummy discovery, this method can help give more
accurate information on the lives and origins of ancient civilizations. This method cannot only be
used on ancient DNA, but modern DNA fragments as well. This will help modern day forensic
scientist that deal with human DNA sample that are tainted with bacteria.
Priscila Ortiz
1206056549
In the article, “2000 Years of Parallel Societies in Stone Age Central Europe”, it
elaborates and clarifies on the relationship between Mesolithic hunter gathers and Neolithic
farmers. It is believed that foragers diminished soon after the arrival of agriculture. The authors
of the article conducted a study on the remains of 29 individuals out of the 450 found in
Blätterhöhle site near Hagen, Germany. The remains were Carbon 14 dated and it tested
mitochondrial DNA. The tests revealed that a Neolithic fish-eating hunter-gatherer group was in
close proximity to a Neolithic farming group at the same time. Some results showed that huntergatherer women were marrying into the farming population. However, it seems that marital and
cultural boundaries still persisted for over 2000 years. The study concludes that the transition
from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic was more complex involving coexistence among humans
with different genetic origins and cultures, not simply a transition.
In class, we discussed civilization’s transition into farming and the effects it had on the
hunter-gatherer lifestyle. We learned about the Talheim Death Pit and how it showed the
violence between LBK farmers and hunter-gatherers. However, the relationship between foragers
and famers still remains murky with assumptions and theories. This relates to the class because
Buried Cities and Lost Tribes is about studying ancient civilizations and clearing up the past,
which is exactly what this study is trying to do. Its whole purpose is to add to the rich history that
is the Neolithic Era.
This study reveals another piece to the puzzle that is farmer/hunter-gatherer relations. I
believe these new findings can help uncover more of the past because maybe this similar model
can apply to future sites discovered in other regions of Neolithic Europe which will help us learn
more not only about past cultures, but our ancestry as well.
Priscila Ortiz
1206056549
“Researchers Discover First Use of Fertilizer” talks about the new discovery of Amy
Bogaard and her team revolving on the first use of fertilizer. Manure helps plants better because
of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. According to some agricultural research plants that
are treated with manure have a higher concentration of nitrogen-15. So Bogaard and her team
measured the nitrogen-15 concentration on the remains of wheat, barley, peas, and lentils from
13 early farming sites. The sites, ranging from Greece to Bulgaria, dated between 7900 and 4400
years ago. The results show that the nitrogen-15 levels are high and consistent with the use of
fertilizer in 124 crop samples at most of the 13 sites. The team concludes that manure was used
by the early farmers from 8000 years ago. The team conclude that farming spread to Europe and
that those farmers cared about the long-term management of their land.
This relates to class because not only did we talk about farming in the Neolithic period,
but this is relevant because it helps better our understanding of what was happening. Farming
was a huge cultural shift, things were never the same after the invention of farming. Farming led
to innovations such as irrigation systems and a new use for animals besides simply using them
for food.
There is much debate on how farming spread and where it first started. This new
discovery will help give more incite about that muggy time in history. This discovery can help
clarify the externalities caused by farming. The team believes that the long-term management led
to thoughts of ownership and fueled the thinking of a social hierarchy. This discovery will help
in the future when new sites are discovered because this will not only help site de dated better,
but also figure out if they have any relations to other sites that use nitrogen.
Priscila Ortiz
1206056549
References Cited
Kaiser, Jocelyn
2013 RNA Helps Resurrect Ancient DNA. Electronic document,
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6158/543.full.pdf, accessed November 10, 2013.
Ruth Bollongino, Olaf Nehlich, Michael P. Richards, Jörg Orschiedt, Mark G. Thomas,
Christian Sell, Zuzana Fajkošová, Adam Powell, Joachim Burger
2013 2000 Years of Parallel Societies in Stone Age Central Europe. Electronic Document,
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6157/479.full, accessed November 10, 2013.
Balter, Michael
2013 Researchers Discover First Use of Fertilizer. Electronic document,
http://news.sciencemag.org/2013/07/researchers-discover-first-use-fertilizer, accessed
November 10, 2013.