Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have isolated ancient human DNA from a Paleolithic deer tooth pendant found in Siberia’s Denisova Cave. This groundbreaking achievement enables the direct identification of the individuals who utilized such artifacts, thereby enhancing our understanding of Paleolithic societies. The team created a non-destructive DNA extraction method that preserves the structural integrity of the artifacts while recovering DNA, allowing them to analyze a genetic profile of a woman who likely wore the pendant and the deer it originated from, dating back 19,000 to 25,000 years. Traditionally, linking artifacts to specific individuals was challenging, as burials and grave goods were rare during the Paleolithic era. Previous attempts at DNA extraction often resulted in modern contamination, but by focusing on freshly excavated materials, the researchers successfully isolated significant amounts of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from the pendant. This woman’s genome revealed a close genetic relationship to the Ancient North Eurasians. Given the success of this method, the researchers plan to analyze additional prehistoric artifacts to uncover more about the genetic ancestry and roles of the individuals who produced and utilized them.
