Integrative analysis of DNA, macroscopic remains and stable isotopes of dog coprolites to reconstruct community diet.

ABSTRACT: Paleofeces or coprolites are often used to reconstruct diet at archaeological sites, usually using macroscopic analyses or targeted DNA amplification and sequencing. Here we present an integrative analysis of dog coprolites, combining macroscopic analyses, stable isotope measurements, and DNA shotgun sequencing to examine diet and health status. Dog coprolites used in this study were recovered from the Janey B. Goode and East Saint Louis archaeological sites, both of which are located in the American Bottom, an extensive Mississippi River floodplain in Southwestern Illinois. Based on the context of recovery, coprolites are assigned to the Late Woodland and Terminal Late Woodland periods (ca. 600-1050 AD). Given the scarcity of human remains from this time period, these dog coprolites can b

SUBMITTER: Witt KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7862676 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature