The paper presents the first report on plant macroremains from Takarkorl, a large rockshelter located in the Acacus Mountains, south-western Libya. The site was occupied by hunter-gatherers, followed by pastoralists, and its deposits span from about 8900 bp to 4500 bp. During the 2004-2006 field seasons, accumulations of desiccated seed/fruit remains were observed and collected in their entirety. Nine of these, almost completely consisting of wild cereal spikelets, were selected for morphological examination. Six Samples were selected for aDNA studies which yielded sequence data for 5 Samples extracted from Takarkori specimens. Morphometrical descriptions of Panicum, Echinochloa, and Sorghum were reported from records, and the aDNA sequences obtained from them matched the identifications. These results indicate that it is possible to retrieve ancient DNA from early and mid Holocene plant remains preserved in an arid environment.
Morphological and Genetic Analyses of Early and Mid Holocene Wild Cereals from the Takarkori Rockshelter (Central Sahara, Libya): First Results and Prospects / Olmi, L.; Mercuri, A. M.; Gilbert, T. P.; Biagetti, Stefano; Fordyce, S.; Cappellini, E.; MASSAMBA N’SIALA, I.; DI LERNIA, Savino. - STAMPA. - 3:(2011), pp. 175-184. (Intervento presentato al convegno Sixth International Workshop for African Archaeobotany tenutosi a Cairo nel 13-15 giugno 2009).
Morphological and Genetic Analyses of Early and Mid Holocene Wild Cereals from the Takarkori Rockshelter (Central Sahara, Libya): First Results and Prospects.
BIAGETTI, Stefano;DI LERNIA, Savino
2011
Abstract
The paper presents the first report on plant macroremains from Takarkorl, a large rockshelter located in the Acacus Mountains, south-western Libya. The site was occupied by hunter-gatherers, followed by pastoralists, and its deposits span from about 8900 bp to 4500 bp. During the 2004-2006 field seasons, accumulations of desiccated seed/fruit remains were observed and collected in their entirety. Nine of these, almost completely consisting of wild cereal spikelets, were selected for morphological examination. Six Samples were selected for aDNA studies which yielded sequence data for 5 Samples extracted from Takarkori specimens. Morphometrical descriptions of Panicum, Echinochloa, and Sorghum were reported from records, and the aDNA sequences obtained from them matched the identifications. These results indicate that it is possible to retrieve ancient DNA from early and mid Holocene plant remains preserved in an arid environment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
