| |
|
|
Project
description:
The project aims to reconstruct the peopling of Italy within the context of the Mediterranean Basin.
In order to test the extent of the genetic impact of various populations upon Italian peoples, a mitochondrial
DNA (mtDNA) based research program on both extinct and extant populations from different Mediterranean regions
has been undertaken. Until recently this kind of studies has relied largely on indirect evidence from the genetics
of extant populations, and the information gained from cultural, historical and anthropological sources. The
possibility to study aDNA have enabled us to compare directly genetic diversity between extinct populations and
their extant counterparts, providing a temporal dimension to the study of molecular evolution.
These comparisons have generated independent data to address archaeological issues concerning migration, population
replacement, lineage extinction, inbreeding, and the genetic relationships of ancient human populations. Moreover,
aDNA studies have helped clarify mother/children relationships in the cases of multiple burials and sex determination
of young or fragmentary individuals.
Another target of the project is the reconstruction of the dietary variability of the ancient populations as well as
the migrations, if any, during their lifetime. To reach these goals carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stable isotope analysis
of bone collagen were applied to ancient human and animal remains in order to determine the diet. While, the degree mobility
was inferred through high resolution strontium and oxygen stable isotope analysis of biogenic trace elements preserved in tooth enamel and bone.
The biomolecular approach was applied to earlier key Neolithic sites from southern Italy to resolve long-standing issues
concerning the origins and dispersals of early farmers in Italy, the impact that the arrival of agriculture had on pre-existing
indigenous groups in terms of demography, genetic change and subsistence and the extent that their legacy is observable today.
Other samples from different Italian sites, from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages, have also been analyzed, in collaboration
with several Italian and other European colleagues: Balzi Rossi, Arene Candide, Romito, Grotta delle Veneri, Samari, Fontenoce
di Recanati, Sant'Angelo Muxaro, Ticchiara, Madonna di Loreto, Monte Vodice, Ipogeo degli Aureli, Ferento, Santa Severa.
PhD Thesis: Dietary variability, mobility and genetic origins of early farmers of southern Italy: an integrated biomolecular
approach- Roberta Lelli (a.a. 2010-2011)
Project
References:
Ottoni, C., Koon, H.E.C., Collins, M.J., Penkman, K.E.H., Rickards, O., Craig, O.E. (2009).
Preservation of ancient DNA in thermally damaged archaeological bone. Naturwissenschaften,
vol. 96:267-278.
Ottoni, C., Martínez-Labarga, C., Vitelli, L., Scano, G., Fabrini,
E., Contini, I., Biondi, G., Rickards, O. (2009).
Human mitochondrial DNA variability in Southern Italy.
Annals of Human Biology vol. 36 (6): 1-27.
Messina, F., Scorrano, G., Martínez Labarga, C., Rolfo, M.F.,
Rickards, O. (2010) Mitochondrial DNA variation in an isolated area of Central Italy.
Annals of Human Biology, vol. 37 (3):385-402.
Craig, O.E., Piazzo, M., Colonese, A.C., Di Giuseppe, Z.,
Martinez-Labarga, C., Lo Vetro, D., Lelli, R., Martini, F.,
Rickards, O. (2010) Stable isotope analysis of Late Upper
Palaeolithic human and faunal remains from Grotta del Romito
(Cosenza), Italy. Journal of Archaeological Science vol. 37: 2504-2512.
This work is funded by the MIUR (Ministry of Education,
University and Research) under the "Programma di Ricerca scientifica di Interesse Nazionale" entitled "Origin and diffusion
of farming in central-southern Italy: a multidisciplinary approach " (PRIN 2008 - prot. 2008B4J2HS, scientific national
coordinator: prof. Olga Rickards)
|
|
|
|
|
