Dubhthach
09-09-2015, 04:31 PM
So while doing some googling there about a major cemetry that was discovered by the NRA (that's "National Roads Agency" folks ;) ) in Donegal back in 2003 I came across the following interestig titbit:
The proposed pilot project on ancient DNA will add a further strand to the scientific
analysis and inter-disciplinary aspect of the project. The pilot project will involve the
examination of DNA samples from a series of dated male burials excavated at two Irish
sites, Johnstown, Co Meath (02E0462) and Collierstown, Co Meath (E3068). The main
research questions involve identification of intrusive population groups and/or native
family groups in a specific cemetery and also evidence for disease mutation. Until now,
ancient DNA analysis has been largely restricted to a very small portion of the genome
which only allows resolution of very divergent human lineages. However, next
generation sequencing promises to allow analysis of thousands of genetic loci in
archaeological specimens and should allow finer differentiations to be made, such as
between those between people of Irish origin and those from populations in Britain. This
also should allow examination of genetic variants that are known to have physical effects
(eye colour, pigmentation, disease alleles) which are segregating in the modern Irish
population and for which an ancient population genetic description of prevalence has
intrinsic interest. The analysis will be undertaken by Professor Daniel Bradley, TCD and
Dr Ana Linderholm in the Ancient DNA Laboratory, Department of Evolutionary
Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University. Dr Linderholm works with
Professor Anders Gotherstrom one of the world’s leading experts on ancient DNA, with
the co-operation of Professor Orla Hardiman, Beaumont Hospital.
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/INSTAR_Database/Mapping_Death_Boundaries_Territories_and_People_Pr ogress_Report_09.pdf
The report is from 2009, other mentions of ancient DNA and more specifically Ballyhanna remains (close on 1,000 bodies discovered) include:
Sheila Tierney, under the supervision of Dr Jeremy Bird, is
attempting to extract and amplify ancient DNA (aDNA) from the archaeological human remains. Results are now emerging in both areas of research
and Sheila Tierney and Tasneem Bashir presented well-received papers outlining their research to date at the World Archaeological Congress held
in University College Dublin in July 2008.
http://www.tii.ie/tii-library/archaeology/Archaeology%20Research/ballyhanna-research-project-2009-update.pdf
SEX IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM AN
IRISH MEDIEVAL POPULATION USING BIOMOLECULAR
METHODS
http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/viewFile/4181/4017
Ballyhanna Research Project (Queen's University Belfast)
http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/Ballyhanna/AncientDNAAnalysis/
http://www.ria.ie/getmedia/ece12a98-f5bc-45f9-9533-49ad1d85425c/early-medieval
. Analysis of samples from Holdenstown 2, Co. Kilkenny, indicates an incoming
population who re-used an Iron Age monument to create a local identity in the fi fth
to sixth century ad (Tobin 2011). DNA evidence indicated a lack of familial links
between a female and juvenile buried in this monument. Although the results of such
analyses must be viewed carefully alongside other evidence, the potential for isotope
studies and other analyses made possible by technological developments to examine
both external and internal migration as well as dietary change is considerable. The
scope and potential of the study of ancient DNA is even more remarkable for what
it can offer to archaeological research, in respect not only of the thorny question of
people’s origins but also of their gender and familial groupings.
The Ballyhanna collection of remains if you ask me could be a gamechanger if they can extract a significant amount of viable aDNA from it. There are close on 1,000 remains found at that site in generally good condition dating from early medieval period.
The proposed pilot project on ancient DNA will add a further strand to the scientific
analysis and inter-disciplinary aspect of the project. The pilot project will involve the
examination of DNA samples from a series of dated male burials excavated at two Irish
sites, Johnstown, Co Meath (02E0462) and Collierstown, Co Meath (E3068). The main
research questions involve identification of intrusive population groups and/or native
family groups in a specific cemetery and also evidence for disease mutation. Until now,
ancient DNA analysis has been largely restricted to a very small portion of the genome
which only allows resolution of very divergent human lineages. However, next
generation sequencing promises to allow analysis of thousands of genetic loci in
archaeological specimens and should allow finer differentiations to be made, such as
between those between people of Irish origin and those from populations in Britain. This
also should allow examination of genetic variants that are known to have physical effects
(eye colour, pigmentation, disease alleles) which are segregating in the modern Irish
population and for which an ancient population genetic description of prevalence has
intrinsic interest. The analysis will be undertaken by Professor Daniel Bradley, TCD and
Dr Ana Linderholm in the Ancient DNA Laboratory, Department of Evolutionary
Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University. Dr Linderholm works with
Professor Anders Gotherstrom one of the world’s leading experts on ancient DNA, with
the co-operation of Professor Orla Hardiman, Beaumont Hospital.
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/INSTAR_Database/Mapping_Death_Boundaries_Territories_and_People_Pr ogress_Report_09.pdf
The report is from 2009, other mentions of ancient DNA and more specifically Ballyhanna remains (close on 1,000 bodies discovered) include:
Sheila Tierney, under the supervision of Dr Jeremy Bird, is
attempting to extract and amplify ancient DNA (aDNA) from the archaeological human remains. Results are now emerging in both areas of research
and Sheila Tierney and Tasneem Bashir presented well-received papers outlining their research to date at the World Archaeological Congress held
in University College Dublin in July 2008.
http://www.tii.ie/tii-library/archaeology/Archaeology%20Research/ballyhanna-research-project-2009-update.pdf
SEX IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM AN
IRISH MEDIEVAL POPULATION USING BIOMOLECULAR
METHODS
http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/viewFile/4181/4017
Ballyhanna Research Project (Queen's University Belfast)
http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/Ballyhanna/AncientDNAAnalysis/
http://www.ria.ie/getmedia/ece12a98-f5bc-45f9-9533-49ad1d85425c/early-medieval
. Analysis of samples from Holdenstown 2, Co. Kilkenny, indicates an incoming
population who re-used an Iron Age monument to create a local identity in the fi fth
to sixth century ad (Tobin 2011). DNA evidence indicated a lack of familial links
between a female and juvenile buried in this monument. Although the results of such
analyses must be viewed carefully alongside other evidence, the potential for isotope
studies and other analyses made possible by technological developments to examine
both external and internal migration as well as dietary change is considerable. The
scope and potential of the study of ancient DNA is even more remarkable for what
it can offer to archaeological research, in respect not only of the thorny question of
people’s origins but also of their gender and familial groupings.
The Ballyhanna collection of remains if you ask me could be a gamechanger if they can extract a significant amount of viable aDNA from it. There are close on 1,000 remains found at that site in generally good condition dating from early medieval period.