Jensen, Theis ZT (2019) Out of the Fog - Applying biomolecular methods to explore the south Scandinavian Stone Age. PhD thesis, University of York.
Abstract
The present thesis is composed of three projects, which share the theme of using minimally
destructive state-of-the-art scientific methods to study objects from the Early Mesolithic and the
transition to the Neolithic in Southern Scandinavia.
Firstly, Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), protein sequencing by liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and direct accelerator mass
spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating were used to interrogate barbed bone points. The results
reveal that these iconic artefacts can be used as proxies for species utilisation and availability.
Significantly, a radiocarbon hiatus at 10.2 ka was discovered which implies a depeopling event
occurred.
The second project focuses on very rare osseous finger ring. Direct dating of 70 proximal finds
from the site places the ring at the cusp of the Neolithic. ZooMS and LC-MS/MS revealed that
the ring is made from red deer (Cervus elaphus), and the generated proteome may give an
indication of the skeletal element from which it was made.
The last study utilises a novel finds category (masticated birch pitch) as a new source of ancient
human DNA. Shotgun sequencing generated an entire human genome (2.3x) of the person who
chewed the pitch. Interesting, she showed genetic affinity to Western Hunter-Gatherers and not
Neolithic farmers. Additionally, metagenomics allowed the investigation of her oral microbiome,
latent viral diseases and diet.
Metadata
Supervisors: | Collins, Matthew and Schroeder, Hannes and Sørensen, Mikkel and Milner, Nicky |
---|---|
Awarding institution: | University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Archaeology (York) |
Identification Number/EthosID: | uk.bl.ethos.829753 |
Depositing User: | Dr Theis ZT Jensen |
Date Deposited: | 19 May 2021 12:27 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jun 2021 09:53 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:26016 |
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