FIRST DISTINCTION OF SHEEP AND GOAT ARCHAEOLOGICAL BONES BY THE MEANSOF THEIR FOSSIL MTDNA

Fossil mtDNA of 10 ovicaprine bones from Neolithic, Bronze Age and Rom an archaeological layers have been extracted in order to test their os teological determination as sheep or goat or to determine them when os teological criteria were absent. Only one sample could not be amplifie d. The five more reliable osteological determinations (humerus, radius , metacarpus) have been confirmed by fossil mtDNA. A sixth less reliab le sheep bone (ulna) has been determined as goat. Three other undeterm ined bones (young metacarpus and vertebrae) have been determined as go at. Although anecdotal, these results illustrate the possibilities yie lded by new molecular methods for special specific determinations with more important scientific implications. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limit ed