DNA analysis of a Roman skeleton of a Cervidae from Belgium

Category: 
Pilot project
Acronym: 
DNADD
Coordinator: 
Fabienne Pigière (RBINS)
JEMU partner: 
Gontran Sonet and Carl Vangestel
Project summary: 
The goal of this small project is to extract ancient DNA from a partial skeleton of a Cervidae discovered in a Roman context at Herstal (Liège) and confirm its species identification. Based on osteomorphological analysis, the skeleton has been attributed to the fallow deer (Dama dama), however, the species identification needs to be confirmed by a DNA analysis. Dama dama is from eastern Mediterranean and if individuals were imported in north-western Europe during the Roman period is still under debate.
Collaborations: 
Naomi Sykes, Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter, UK Nathalie Suarez-Gonzalez, Département d' Histoire, Arts et Archéologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium Denis Henrard, Agence wallonne du Patrimoine, Liège, Belgium
Lab work progress: 
Completed
Data analysis: 
Completed
Starting date: 
2018
Project status: 
Completed

Output:

Peer-reviewed paper:

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith