Dr Viviane Slon

Using ancient DNA in sediments to learn about our past

1:00pm - 2:00pm / Thursday 11th November 2021
Type: Webinar / Category: Department / Series: Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology Seminar Series
Add this event to my calendar

Create a calendar file

Click on "Create a calendar file" and your browser will download a .ics file for this event.

Microsoft Outlook: Download the file, double-click it to open it in Outlook, then click on "Save & Close" to save it to your calendar. If that doesn't work go into Outlook, click on the File tab, then on Open & Export, then Open Calendar. Select your .ics file then click on "Save & Close".

Google Calendar: download the file, then go into your calendar. On the left where it says "Other calendars" click on the arrow icon and then click on Import calendar. Click on Browse and select the .ics file, then click on Import.

Apple Calendar: The file may open automatically with an option to save it to your calendar. If not, download the file, then you can either drag it to Calendar or import the file by going to File >Import > Import and choosing the .ics file.

In the past years, DNA retrieved from ancient human remains have been instrumental in furthering our understanding of our own evolutionary past, as well as that of our closest extinct relatives, the Neandertals and the Denisovans. Such studies, however, are inherently limited to sites and timeframes where such remains have been found and made available for sampling. A complementary approach can be to recover human DNA fragments from ancient sediments – a source material ubiquitously and abundantly found at any archaeological excavation. Here, Dr Viviane Slon will outline a methodology to do so, including its highlights and pitfalls, and demonstrate the potential of this research avenue using examples from prehistoric sites in Europe and Asia.

Affiliation: Tel Aviv University

For Zoom information and registration email liverpoolevoanth@gmail.com.