A new, nondestructive way to recover ancient DNA has shown its potential for illuminating Stone Age people’s lives.
Genetic material extracted from a pierced deer tooth, possibly worn as a pendant, identifies its maker or wearer as a female Homo sapiens who lived roughly 20,000 years ago in Siberia, researchers report May 3 in Nature. Comparisons of DNA indicate that the female who handled the artifact was closely related to people who lived farther east in Siberia around the same time (SN: 8/28/14).
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