Microbiological forensic evidence, biofacts, and ritual events
Crime scene: Monte Iato, around 500 BC.
Principal Investigator:
MMag. Dr. Birgit Öhlinger
Address:
ATRIUM - Zentrum für Alte Kulturen - Langer Weg 11
University / Research Institution:
Department of Archaeologies
University of Innsbruck
Funded by / Approval date:
Vice-Rectorate for Research - Support for Young Researchers: / 2017
Start:
2017
End:
2019
Project collaborations:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Margesin (Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck)
José A. Siles, M.Sc. Ph.D. (Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck)
Abstract:
Microbial ecology has been recognized as useful in archaeological studies. The objective of this study is the first examination of soil microbial communities related to archaic buildings and strata of Monte Iato. Soil samples will be collected from archaeological layers and analyzed. Microbial soil characterization include abundance (cellular phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), viable bacterial counts), activity (physiological profiles, enzyme activities ofviable bacteria), diversity, and community structure (bacterial and fungal Illumina amplicon sequencing, identification of viable bacteria). We will test the hypothesis that human consumption habits left traces on microbiota in the archaeological evidence; therefore, microbiological residues as part of the so-called ecofacts are, like artifacts, key indicators of consumer behavior in the past.