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A 5700 year-old human genome and oral microbiome from chewed birch pitch

Author

Listed:
  • Theis Z. T. Jensen

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of York)

  • Jonas Niemann

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of York)

  • Katrine Højholt Iversen

    (Technical University of Denmark
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Anna K. Fotakis

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Shyam Gopalakrishnan

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Åshild J. Vågene

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Mikkel Winther Pedersen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Martin R. Ellegaard

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Morten E. Allentoft

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Liam T. Lanigan

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Alberto J. Taurozzi

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Sofie Holtsmark Nielsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Michael W. Dee

    (University of Groningen)

  • Martin N. Mortensen

    (The National Museum of Denmark, I.C. Modewegs Vej, Brede)

  • Mads C. Christensen

    (The National Museum of Denmark, I.C. Modewegs Vej, Brede)

  • Søren A. Sørensen

    (Museum Lolland-Falster, Frisegade 40)

  • Matthew J. Collins

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Cambridge)

  • M. Thomas P. Gilbert

    (University of Copenhagen
    University Museum, NTNU)

  • Martin Sikora

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Simon Rasmussen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Hannes Schroeder

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The rise of ancient genomics has revolutionised our understanding of human prehistory but this work depends on the availability of suitable samples. Here we present a complete ancient human genome and oral microbiome sequenced from a 5700 year-old piece of chewed birch pitch from Denmark. We sequence the human genome to an average depth of 2.3× and find that the individual who chewed the pitch was female and that she was genetically more closely related to western hunter-gatherers from mainland Europe than hunter-gatherers from central Scandinavia. We also find that she likely had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. In addition, we identify DNA fragments from several bacterial and viral taxa, including Epstein-Barr virus, as well as animal and plant DNA, which may have derived from a recent meal. The results highlight the potential of chewed birch pitch as a source of ancient DNA.

Suggested Citation

  • Theis Z. T. Jensen & Jonas Niemann & Katrine Højholt Iversen & Anna K. Fotakis & Shyam Gopalakrishnan & Åshild J. Vågene & Mikkel Winther Pedersen & Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding & Martin R. Ellegaard & Mo, 2019. "A 5700 year-old human genome and oral microbiome from chewed birch pitch," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13549-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13549-9
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