The mules that are not mules-metrics, morphology, archaeogenomics and mtDNA d-loop diversity in equids from Roman Switzerland
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The mules that are not mules-metrics, morphology, archaeogenomics and mtDNA d-loop diversity in equids from Roman Switzerland. / Granado, Jose D.; Dill, Nadine; Gaunitz, Charleen; Fages, Antoine; Khan, Naveed; Mraz, Monica Schernig; Deschler-Erb, Sabine; Orlando, Ludovic; Schlumbaum, Angela.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 123, 105253, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - The mules that are not mules-metrics, morphology, archaeogenomics and mtDNA d-loop diversity in equids from Roman Switzerland
AU - Granado, Jose D.
AU - Dill, Nadine
AU - Gaunitz, Charleen
AU - Fages, Antoine
AU - Khan, Naveed
AU - Mraz, Monica Schernig
AU - Deschler-Erb, Sabine
AU - Orlando, Ludovic
AU - Schlumbaum, Angela
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Mules (Equus asinus x Equus caballus) represent first-generation hybrids between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey (jack). They are generally considered to have first appeared north of the Alps with Roman influence, a time period in which written and iconographic sources support their key role for transport and traction, both in farming and the military. The archaeozoological evidence for mules is, however, contentious as faunal assem-blages are difficult to assign to either parental species or hybrids based on morphometric data alone. Here we leverage low-coverage DNA sequence data and Zonkey computational analyses to assess the occurrence of mules within Roman equid faunal assemblages in the alpine foreland. While morphological data previously assigned 17 remains to mules, successful DNA analysis of 12 remains revealed that 11 were in fact horses, one female and ten males. Eight mtDNA d-loop haplogroups were identified and genetic diversity within Roman equids corresponds to non-threatened modern local breeds. Two remains genetically identified as mules belonged to haplogroups F and I. Our results suggest that the importance of mules in the Roman archaeological record of the alpine foreland, and probably elsewhere, may have been previously over-estimated. Whether this is true for other regions of the Roman Empire needs to be evaluated. Further genomic testing for equid species and their hybrids and molecular sexing will improve our knowledge on this important issue.
AB - Mules (Equus asinus x Equus caballus) represent first-generation hybrids between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey (jack). They are generally considered to have first appeared north of the Alps with Roman influence, a time period in which written and iconographic sources support their key role for transport and traction, both in farming and the military. The archaeozoological evidence for mules is, however, contentious as faunal assem-blages are difficult to assign to either parental species or hybrids based on morphometric data alone. Here we leverage low-coverage DNA sequence data and Zonkey computational analyses to assess the occurrence of mules within Roman equid faunal assemblages in the alpine foreland. While morphological data previously assigned 17 remains to mules, successful DNA analysis of 12 remains revealed that 11 were in fact horses, one female and ten males. Eight mtDNA d-loop haplogroups were identified and genetic diversity within Roman equids corresponds to non-threatened modern local breeds. Two remains genetically identified as mules belonged to haplogroups F and I. Our results suggest that the importance of mules in the Roman archaeological record of the alpine foreland, and probably elsewhere, may have been previously over-estimated. Whether this is true for other regions of the Roman Empire needs to be evaluated. Further genomic testing for equid species and their hybrids and molecular sexing will improve our knowledge on this important issue.
KW - Ancient DNA
KW - Archaeozoology
KW - Morphometrics
KW - Roman time
KW - Horse
KW - Donkey
KW - Mule
KW - Taxonomical assignment
KW - Zonkey
KW - DOMESTIC HORSES
KW - EQUUS-CABALLUS
KW - ANCIENT DNA
KW - AGE HORSES
KW - IDENTIFICATION
KW - DONKEYS
KW - HYBRIDS
KW - CASTRATION
KW - BONES
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2020.105253
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2020.105253
M3 - Journal article
VL - 123
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
M1 - 105253
ER -
ID: 252475453