2023-05-04 01:35:45
Scientists have used a new DNA extraction method to identify the owner of an elk tooth that was drilled into a pendant around 20,000 years ago.
This new technique developed by German researchers makes it possible to isolate DNA that is present in skin cells, in sweat or in other bodily fluids, which can be absorbed by certain porous materials, including bones and teeth, reports Archyde.com.
The pendant, found in a cave in Siberia, was handled with care using gloves, in particular, to prevent it from being contaminated with modern DNA.
Using this method, scientists were able to determine that the object belonged to a Stone Age woman related to hunters who allegedly lived in caves at the foothills of Altai, a range mountains in Russia.
The researchers documented their discovery in a study published in the journal Nature.
“This study opens up new possibilities for reconstructing the role of individuals in the past according to their gender and ancestry,” said the lead researcher of the scientific paper, molecular biologist Elena Essel, in an interview with Archyde.com.
Other artifacts that have been worn, such as jewelry, can be studied using this method to learn more about their past.
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