[Sca-cooks] DNA from ancient latrines and what was eaten

[Johnna Holloway]

There was an interesting article published yesterday by Smithsonian.

DNA From Ancient Latrines Reveal What People Ate Centuries Ago

By digging in ancient toilets, researchers uncovered genetic material that tells of past diets and diseases


Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dna-ancient-latrines-reveal-what-people-ate-centuries-ago-180968947/#qUUxtfKGjVEZVtoe.99
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The paper 
Ancient DNA from latrines in Northern Europe and the Middle East (500 BC–1700 AD) reveals past parasites and diet
Martin Jensen Søe, Peter Nejsum, Frederik Valeur Seersholm, Brian Lund Fredensborg, Ruben Habraken, Kirstine Haase,  …




Appears at 

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195481#pone.0195481.ref043 <http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195481#pone.0195481.ref043>

Of great interest among the results --

" <>The most abundant edible plants found in the samples from Northern Europe included cabbages (Brassica), buckwheat (Fagopyrum), wheat (Hordeum), sweet peas (Lathyrus), legumes (Lotus), peas (Pisum) and more seasonal foods herein mainly fruits: strawberries (Fragaria), plums/cherries (Prunus), pears (Pyrus), rhubarb (Rheum), and berries possibly cranberry/blueberry (Vaccinium). Notably, carrots and potatoes which are consumed in large quantities today, were not identified, in agreement with their gradual introduction in Northern Europe from the 16–1700s [43 <http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195481#pone.0195481.ref043>,44 <http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195481#pone.0195481.ref044>]. The present study did not allow for a detailed analysis of geographic preferences for the above mentioned plants, but grapes (Vitis), as often used in wine production, were identified in high concentration in the Netherlands and less so in Copenhagen, Denmark. In contrast, hop (Humulus), as often used in beer production, was identified in Odense and Copenhagen, Denmark and in Lithuania. Finally, tobacco (Nicotiana) was identified at the docks in Copenhagen (Gammel Strand), which was also the site of highest sample diversity, plant as well as helminth and vertebrate.
Johnnae