Data deposition: AY129530, AY129545, AY129531, AY129546, AY129547, AY129532, AY129537, AY129538, AY129544, AY129539, AY129540, AY129541, AY129542, AY129543.
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Original Article
Genetic characterization of Pompeii and Herculaneum Equidae buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD†
Article first published online: 28 JAN 2004
DOI: 10.1002/jcp.10461
Copyright © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Di Bernardo, G., Galderisi, U., Del Gaudio, S., D'Aniello, A., Lanave, C., De Robertis, M.T., Cascino, A. and Cipollaro, M. (2004), Genetic characterization of Pompeii and Herculaneum Equidae buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD. J. Cell. Physiol., 199: 200–205. doi: 10.1002/jcp.10461
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 MAR 2004
- Article first published online: 28 JAN 2004
- Manuscript Accepted: 13 AUG 2003
- Manuscript Received: 19 JUN 2003
Funded by
- MURST-PRIN 2001 (to A.C.)
- C.N.R. P. F. “Beni culturali” (to M.C.). Grant Number: 0100519 P.F. 36
- Campania Regional Authorities P.O.R. CRdC (to M.C.)
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
DNA extracted from the skeletons of five equids discovered in a Pompeii stable and of a horse found in Herculaneum was investigated. Amino acid racemization level was consistent with the presence of DNA. Post-mortem base modifications were excluded by sequencing a 146 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene. Sequencing of a 370 bp fragment of mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region allowed the construction of a phylogenetic tree that, along with sequencing of nuclear genes (epsilon globin, gamma interferon, and p53) fragments, gave us the possibility to address some questions puzzling archaeologists. What animals—donkeys, horses, or crossbreeds—were they? And, given they had been evidently assigned to one specific job, were they all akin or were they animals with different mitochondrial haplotypes? The conclusions provided by molecular analysis show that the Pompeii remains are those of horses and mules. Furthermore one of the equids (CAV5) seems to belong to a haplotype, which is either not yet documented in the GenBank or has since disappeared. As its characteristics closely recall those of donkeys, which is the out group chosen to construct the tree, that appears to have evolved within the Equidae family much earlier than horses, this assumption seems to be nearer the truth. J. Cell. Physiol. 199: 200–205, 2004© 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.