Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae
| العنوان: | Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae |
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| المؤلفون: | Robin Bendrey, Manasij Pal Chowdhury, Elsa Panciroli, Ian B. Butler, Carla Willars, David Clarke, Michael Buckley, Bart E. van Dongen, Jeremy S. Herman, Lore Troalen, Andrzej A. Romaniuk, Alexandra N. Shepherd, Alison Sheridan |
| المصدر: | Romaniuk, A, Panciroli, E, Buckley, M, Chowdhury, M P, Willars, C, Herman, J S, Troalen, L, Shepherd, A N, Clarke, D V, Sheridan, A, van Dongen, B E, Butler, I & Bendrey, R 2020, ' Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae ', Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, vol. 12, no. 2, 274 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01225-9 Romaniuk, A, Panciroli, E, Buckley, M, Pal Chowdhury, M, Willars, C, Herman, J S, Troalen, L G, Shepherd, A N, CLarke, D V, Sheridan, A, van Dongen, B E, Butler, I B & Bendrey, R 2020, ' Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae ', Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, vol. 12, 274 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01225-9 |
| سنة النشر: | 2020 |
| مصطلحات موضوعية: | 010506 paleontology, Archeology, biology, Coprolite, Zoology, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, biology.organism_classification, ResearchInstitutes_Networks_Beacons/manchester_institute_of_biotechnology, 01 natural sciences, Protein markers, Combined approach, Distal limb, Canis, Anthropology, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Potential source, Microtus, Ovis, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| الوصف: | Coprolites (fossilized faeces) can provide valuable insights into species’ diet and related habits. In archaeozoological contexts, they are a potential source of information on human-animal interactions as well as human and animal subsistence. However, despite a broad discussion on coprolites in archaeology, such finds are rarely subject to detailed examination by researchers, perhaps due to the destructive nature of traditional analytical methods. Here, we have examined coprolitic remains from the Neolithic (third millennium BCE) settlement at Skara Brae, Orkney, using a range of modern methods: X-ray computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy, lipid and protein analysis (shotgun proteomics of the coprolite matrix as well as collagen peptide mass fingerprinting of isolated bone fragments). This combined approach minimised destructiveness of sampling, leaving sufficient material for subsequent study, while providing more information than traditional morphological examination alone. Based on gross visual examination, coprolites were predominantly attributed to domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), with morphologically identified bone inclusions derived from domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and common voles (Microtus arvalis). Partial dissection of a coprolite provided bone samples containing protein markers akin to those of domestic sheep. Considering the predominance of vertebral and distal limb bone fragments, Skara Brae dogs were probably consuming human butchery or meal refuse, either routinely fed to them or scavenged. The presumably opportunistic consumption of rodents may also have played a role in pest control. |
| وصف الملف: | application/pdf |
| اللغة: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12520-020-01225-9 |
| URL الوصول: | https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_dedup___::204b459b5b7ab39871591659bf89d101 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11820/165e5fe3-d2c1-4682-adc8-315304918a8b |
| Rights: | OPEN |
| رقم الانضمام: | edsair.doi.dedup.....204b459b5b7ab39871591659bf89d101 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | OpenAIRE |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12520-020-01225-9 |
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