Projektdatenbank (ab 2004)

Projektnummer

0065914

Zusammenfassung

Before the recent discovery of ancient human DNA in Pleistocene cave sediments, genetic investigations into human evolution and pre-history relied exclusively on the relatively sparse fossil record. Moreover, the search for ancient human DNA in sediments has focused on caves where stone tools and other artefacts provide evidence of human occupation. Caves are usually protected from rain, wind and strong temperature fluctuations, factors which are thought to reduce the chance of long-term DNA preservation. While it is known that ancient faunal DNA can also be recovered from sediments an...