DNA IN CREMATED BONES FROM AN EARLY BRONZE-AGE CEMETERY CAIRN

The discovery of polymeric DNA in charred wheat grains and other burnt plant remains prompted us to examine a set of cremated bones for the presence of ancient DNA. Extracts of cremated bones from an early Bron ze Age cemetery cairn were analysed by hybridization probing and the p olymerase chain reaction. Hybridization with two probes targeting huma n DNA resulted in strong positive signals. Polymerase chain reactions directed at a multicopy sequence in human nuclear DNA were successful, extracts of five burials giving amplification products of the expecte d size. Exploitation of ancient DNA in cremated bones could be of grea t value in archaeology as it may enable information pertaining to sex and kinship to be obtained from fragmented material.