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View Full Version : Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts



Ajeje Brazorf
11-08-2024, 04:36 PM
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01361-7

The study is a 2024 research paper published in Current Biology by Pilli et al., titled "Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts." It involves genetic analysis of human remains embedded in plaster casts from Pompeii, providing insights into the identities, relationships, and ancestries of individuals who perished in the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Summary of Research
This study examines skeletal remains encased in plaster casts created by archaeologists to preserve the impressions left by the bodies buried in ash and pumice during the eruption. It focuses on the genetic and isotopic data extracted from five individuals to investigate their ancestry, sex, relationships, and mobility. The study challenges earlier assumptions about the victims’ identities, gender roles, and relationships, which were traditionally inferred from the casts' visual characteristics and artifacts found alongside them.

Techniques for Extraction and Analysis of Ancient DNA
1. Sampling and Preparation: Bone fragments mixed with plaster were taken from 14 different casts. These samples were carefully screened to determine DNA concentration and degradation levels.
2. DNA Enrichment and Sequencing: Researchers employed a hybridization-based approach to enrich mitochondrial DNA and target over a million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Mitochondrial DNA and nuclear SNPs were sequenced to maximize data quality.
3. Data Quality Assessment: To verify ancient DNA authenticity, researchers analyzed base misincorporation patterns (e.g., C-to-T substitutions) and calculated contamination estimates. Male sex was confirmed using Y-chromosome quantification where possible.

DNA Sample Sources and Ages
The DNA was extracted from skeletal remains embedded in plaster casts found in different locations within Pompeii:
- House of the Golden Bracelet: Four individuals were sampled here, previously believed to be family members.
- House of the Cryptoporticus: Two individuals presumed to be in an embrace.
- Villa of the Mysteries: Another individual was found in this location.

Haplogroups and Genetic Findings
The genetic analysis revealed several haplogroups among the individuals:
- Y-chromosome haplogroups included J2a, J2b, E1b, and T1a, commonly associated with Western Asia and still found in significant frequencies across Southern Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia.
- The individuals’ mitochondrial haplogroups also reflected diverse ancestry sources, including connections to the Near East and North Africa.

DNA Results and Ancestry Insights
The DNA analysis revealed a high degree of genetic diversity among the Pompeii victims, suggesting recent eastern Mediterranean origins. The primary ancestry components for these individuals derived from Anatolia Neolithic farmers and Levantine Pre-Pottery Neolithic farmers, with additional contributions from Neolithic farmers from Iran. This genetic makeup aligns with other samples from Imperial Rome, highlighting Pompeii’s cosmopolitan population.
One individual’s genetic profile showed a unique ancestry mix, suggesting possible European heritage from steppe pastoralist groups, while others displayed distinct combinations of eastern Mediterranean, North African, and Levantine ancestries.

Key Findings and Discoveries
The study presents several groundbreaking conclusions:
1. Challenging Traditional Interpretations: Traditional interpretations based on visual observations of the plaster casts were often misleading. For example, an adult with a child presumed to be a mother-child pair was instead found to be an unrelated adult male and child.
2. Unexpected Gender Assignments: Genetic evidence revealed that several individuals previously presumed to be female based on cast position and artifacts were, in fact, male.
3. Lack of Genetic Relatedness: The four individuals from the House of the Golden Bracelet, once thought to be a nuclear family, showed no evidence of biological relation up to the third degree. This finding dispels the long-held belief in familial connections among these individuals.
4. Diverse Ancestries Reflecting Premodern Globalization: The genetic diversity among these individuals demonstrates the mobility and interconnectedness of populations in the Roman Empire, with strong eastern Mediterranean and North African genetic signals. This cosmopolitan genetic profile mirrors similar findings in other Roman-era populations.
5. Detailed Individual Profiles: The study reconstructed probable phenotypic traits, revealing that some individuals had brown eyes and dark skin, while others showed traits linked to diverse Mediterranean populations.

Fascinating Insights
- Physical Proximity and Misinterpretations of Relationships: Pairs previously assumed to be siblings, lovers, or parent-child based on their positions in the casts were often biologically unrelated.
- Isotopic Analysis: Strontium and oxygen isotopic data for one individual indicated likely local origins within the central Italian Peninsula, though broader Mediterranean isotopic similarities suggest some may have migrated from distant regions.
- Artifacts and Social Status: Artifacts such as a golden bracelet, a whip, and a ring found with individuals offered clues to their possible social roles, though DNA analysis showed these artifacts did not correspond to familial or gender identities as once assumed.

Conclusion
This study underscores the importance of genetic data in revisiting historical narratives shaped by modern interpretations. The DNA evidence challenges assumptions about gender, familial relations, and social behaviors in ancient Pompeii, revealing a more complex social landscape shaped by a diverse, immigrant-rich population. This work enhances our understanding of ancient Roman society and provides a cautionary reminder against projecting modern beliefs onto past societies.

Ajeje Brazorf
11-08-2024, 04:37 PM
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Ajeje Brazorf
11-08-2024, 04:37 PM
Haplogroups



ID
Cast Number
Y-DNA
mtDNA
Skeletal Element
Discovery Place


I3690
22
J2b2a1 (J-L283)
N1b1a1
tooth
House of the Cryptoporticus


I3682
25
E1b1b1b1b (E-Y10561)

diaphysis
Villa of Mysteries


I3686
51
J2a1a4b (J-L25)
T2c1c
left humerus
House of the Golden Bracelet


I3685
52
T1a1a1b2b2b1a (T-Y4964)
U1a1
scapula
House of the Golden Bracelet


I3691
53
E1b1b (E-L19)
H
vertebra
House of the Golden Bracelet

Ajeje Brazorf
11-11-2024, 01:10 PM
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Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3685__AD_79__Cov_30.85%
0.03170099 Lebanon_MBA.SG:ERS1790732_noUDG.SG__BC_1700__Cov_6 7.47%
0.03374775 Palestinian_HGDP00684
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0.03584799 Jordanian_1AM65
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0.03641187 Samaritan_149532
0.03651233 Lebanon_MBA.SG:ERS1790731_noUDG.SG__BC_1800__Cov_7 2.85%


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3690__AD_79__Cov_8.02%
0.04478357 Ashkenazi_Jew_AP6A6
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0.04857920 Lebanese_Orthodox_Christian_Koura_9236445226_R06C0 1
0.04894874 Lebanese_Christian_Maronite_13TD23


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3691__AD_79__Cov_24.26%
0.03069149 Italy_Imperial.SG:R41.SG__AD_200__Cov_72.20%
0.03111711 Turkish_Jew_Tekirdag_Silivri
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0.03426182 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew5
0.03577167 Turkey_EarlyByzantine_1_o:I14824__AD_494__Cov_69.2 5%


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman.SG:f1R.SG__AD_79__Cov_33.78%
0.02595510 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew5
0.02675008 Bulgarian_Jew_sephardic16bul
0.02707131 Romaniote_Jew_Romaniote3
0.02716864 Syrian_Jew_SyriaJewK6
0.02884523 Italy_Imperial.SG:R1543.SG__AD_200__Cov_66.10%
0.02950132 Romaniote_Jew_Romaniote7
0.02986392 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew3
0.03030111 Cypriot_Cyprus24AJ19
0.03185240 Turkish_Jew_Tekirdag_Silivri
0.03232464 Italy_Imperial.SG:R41.SG__AD_200__Cov_72.20%

celticdragongod
11-11-2024, 01:34 PM
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Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3685__AD_79__Cov_30.85%
0.03170099 Lebanon_MBA.SG:ERS1790732_noUDG.SG__BC_1700__Cov_6 7.47%
0.03374775 Palestinian_HGDP00684
0.03397955 Israel_IBA:I4521__BC_2244__Cov_44.45%
0.03443582 Jordan_LBA:I6571__BC_1435__Cov_68.09%
0.03541120 Jordan_LBA:I6564__BC_1350__Cov_60.31%
0.03561413 Turkey_Hellenistic_o1:I3303__BC_267__Cov_34.04%
0.03584799 Jordanian_1AM65
0.03628830 Samaritan_GSM537032
0.03641187 Samaritan_149532
0.03651233 Lebanon_MBA.SG:ERS1790731_noUDG.SG__BC_1800__Cov_7 2.85%


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3690__AD_79__Cov_8.02%
0.04478357 Ashkenazi_Jew_AP6A6
0.04606863 Lebanese_Maronite_Christian_Zgharta_9236442156_R03 C02
0.04629084 Lebanese_Orthodox_Christian_Koura_9236445226_R02C0 1
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0.04768987 Lebanese_Orthodox_Christian_Koura_9238348109_R03C0 1
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0.04857920 Lebanese_Orthodox_Christian_Koura_9236445226_R06C0 1
0.04894874 Lebanese_Christian_Maronite_13TD23


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3691__AD_79__Cov_24.26%
0.03069149 Italy_Imperial.SG:R41.SG__AD_200__Cov_72.20%
0.03111711 Turkish_Jew_Tekirdag_Silivri
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0.03426182 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew5
0.03577167 Turkey_EarlyByzantine_1_o:I14824__AD_494__Cov_69.2 5%


Distance to: Italy_Pompeii_Roman.SG:f1R.SG__AD_79__Cov_33.78%
0.02595510 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew5
0.02675008 Bulgarian_Jew_sephardic16bul
0.02707131 Romaniote_Jew_Romaniote3
0.02716864 Syrian_Jew_SyriaJewK6
0.02884523 Italy_Imperial.SG:R1543.SG__AD_200__Cov_66.10%
0.02950132 Romaniote_Jew_Romaniote7
0.02986392 Italian_Jew_ItalyJew3
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0.03185240 Turkish_Jew_Tekirdag_Silivri
0.03232464 Italy_Imperial.SG:R41.SG__AD_200__Cov_72.20%

Distance to: CDG_scaled
0.17456129 Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3690__AD_79__Cov_8.02%
0.17465523 Italy_Pompeii_Roman.SG:f1R.SG__AD_79__Cov_33.78%
0.17901819 Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3691__AD_79__Cov_24.26%
0.21848737 Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3685__AD_79__Cov_30.85%

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 17.1463% / 0.17146287
50.4 Italy_Pompeii_Roman:I3690__AD_79__Cov_8.02%
49.6 Italy_Pompeii_Roman.SG:f1R.SG__AD_79__Cov_33.78%