Methods for the Study of Ancient Hair: Radiocarbon Dates and Gene Sequences from Individual Hairs

Genetic data from archaeological specimens provides a potent new approach for addressing questions in prehistory. Hair from archaeological sites is an important but overlooked data source amenable to molecular analysis. To date DNA identification from hair is limited to modern samples. Our study is the first to report DNA recovery from a 9800-year-old specimen. We report methods used to extract mitochondrial DNA and obtain accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates (AMS-14C) from hairs plucked from a piece of ancient bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) skin found at Smith Creek Cave, Nevada. The ability to obtain reliable radiocarbon dates and DNA sequences from single ancient hairs opens new possibilities for addressing biological questions in prehistory.