Genetic Evidence of from the First Pandemic.

The Plague of Justinian marked the beginning of the First Pandemic (541-750 CE), yet no genomic evidence of has previously been recovered from the Eastern Mediterranean, where the outbreak was first recorded. This study aimed to determine whether was present in a mid-6th to early 7th century mass grave in Jerash, Jordan, and to characterize its genome within the broader context of First Pandemic strains. We analyzed samples from multiple individuals recovered from the Jerash mass grave.

Unearthing prehistoric diets: First evidence of horse meat consumption in Early Bronze Age Sicily.

This paper presents the earliest documented evidence for the presence and consumption of horse meat in Early Bronze Age Sicily, significantly revising previous understandings of equid use on the island. Multidisciplinary analyses involving proteomics and lipidomics were performed on ceramic vessels from the Castelluccian settlement at Polizzello Mountain (Caltanissetta), revealing residues consistent with equine-derived substances. Proteomic data unequivocally identified equine serum albumin in multiple pottery fragments, demonstrating active consumption or processing of horse-derived substances within a ceremonial or dietary context.

Tracing chalcolithic population mobility using strontium isotopes and proteomics at Gumelnița site, Romania.

The Kodjadermen-Gumelnița-Karonovo VI human group (KGK VI) reached its maximal extension around 4500 BC, covering a large area comprised between southern Ukraine and northern Greece. Afterward, its distribution gradually receded, before vanishing altogether at the end of the fifth - early fourth millenniums BC. This study seeks to investigate the role of individual mobility during this process by performing strontium isotopic analyses on the human remains found at Gumelnița, Romania.

Stable isotope data of Neolithic and Eneolithic populations in the Balkans, 6600 to 4000 BC.

Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen performed on collagen and tooth enamel offer invaluable insight into the diet of ancient populations. In the northern Balkans, most of these isotopic data have been collected as auxiliary information of radiocarbon dates, to correct a potential marine reservoir effect. In order to facilitate the access of the academic community to these data, we present a set of isotopic carbon and nitrogen ratios of human collagen samples for 188 individuals from 12 previously published sites together with hitherto unreleased data for 24 individuals from 4 sites from the Neolithic and Eneolithic period in Bulgaria and Romania.

Using Nondestructive Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometers on Stone, Ceramics, Metals, and Other Materials in Museums: Advantages and Limitations.

Elemental analysis is a fundamental method of analysis on archaeological materials to address their overall composition or identify the source of their geological components, yet having access to instrumentation, its often destructive nature, and the time and cost of analyses have limited the number and/or size of archaeological artifacts tested. The development of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) instruments over the past decade, however, has allowed nondestructive analyses to be conducted in museums around the world, on virtually any size artifact, producing data for up to several hundred samples per day. Major issues have been raised, however, about the sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of these devices, and the limitation of performing surface analysis on potentially heterogeneous objects.

Recovery and identification of mature enamel proteins in ancient teeth.

Proteins in mineralized tissues provide a window to the past, and dental enamel is peculiar in being highly resistant to diagenesis and providing information on a very narrow window of time, such as the developing period; however, to date, complete proteins have not been extracted successfully from ancient teeth. In this work we tested the ability of a whole-crown micro-etch technique to obtain enamel protein samples from mature enamel of recently extracted (n = 2) and ancient (n = 2; ad 800 to 1100) third molars. Samples were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry, and the resulting spectra were searched against the Swiss-Prot protein database using the Mascot software for protein identification.

Non-invasive chemical and phase analysis of Roman bronze artefacts from Thamusida (Morocco).

A repertory of Roman military bronze equipment (1st- 3rd century AD) found at the archaeological site of Thamusida (Rabat, Morocco) was analysed by non-destructive X-ray fluorescence and time of flight neutron diffraction (ToF-ND). Most objects are made of leaded alloys, where copper is combined with tin and/or zinc and, in six cases, to arsenic as well. A mixed technology was employed, making a limited use of "pure" semi-finished materials if compared with the large utilization of recycled materials (brass and bronze).

Chemical fingerprinting and source tracing of obsidian: the central Mediterranean trade in black gold.

Chemical fingerprinting using major or trace element composition is used to characterize the Mediterranean island sources of obsidian and can even differentiate as many as nine flows in the Monte Arci region of Sardinia. Analysis of significant numbers of obsidian artifacts from Neolithic sites in the central Mediterranean reveals specific patterns of source exploitation and suggests particular trade mechanisms and routes. The use of techniques such as X-ray fluorescence, the electron microprobe, neutron activation analysis, and laser ablation ICP mass spectrometry are emphasized in order to produce quantitative results while minimizing damage to valuable artifacts.