Ancient DNA Reveals Ice Age Species Coexistence in Spanish Cave

A study in El Mirón cave [El Mee-RON] in Cantabria [Can-TAH-bree-ah], Spain, reveals that humans coexisted with now-extinct animals, or those only living in Asia, during the Paleolithic [Pay-lee-oh-LIH-thic] era. This expands our understanding of the period. Around 19,000 years ago, a prehistoric woman was buried in El Mirón cave. Her remains, discovered in 2010 by archaeologists Lawrence Straus and David Cuenca Solana [So-LA-nah], were covered in red ochre [OH-ker], earning her the name "The Red Lady of El Mirón." This find provides information about Ice Age humans, with DNA analysis offering insights into populations before and after her time. Genetic studies extract DNA from bones or teeth, according to Archeology Mag. Preserved DNA in soil, known as sedaDNA [sed-uh-dee-en-ay] (sedimentary ancient DNA), also provides crucial information. A study by Pere Gelabert [Pe-reh Heh-la-bert] and Victoria Oberreiter [O-ber-rye-ter] from Ron Pinhasi's [Pin-ha-see] lab at the University of Vienna, in collaboration with Straus and Manuel González Morales [Gon-THAH-leth Mo-RAH-less] from the University of Cantabria, focused on this. sedaDNA analysis indicates that humans and animals inhabited the cave at different times, as seen in various archaeological layers. The study identified genetic traces of species not previously recorded in faunal remains, such as hyenas, leopards, and Asiatic [Ay-zhuh-AT-ik] dholes [dohlz] (Asian wild dogs). This method allows discovering past ecosystems without well-preserved bone remains. A key finding is the discovery of human genetic ancestry in the sediments. Analysis revealed that those who made Solutrean [So-LOO-tree-an] artifacts [AHR-tih-fakts] in El Mirón cave during the Last Glacial [GLAY-shuhl] Maximum (25,000-21,000 years ago) belonged to the "Fournol" genetic lineage [LIN-ee-ij]. This lineage was previously identified in France and Spain, suggesting these Ice Age hunter-gatherers moved south during extreme climate conditions. Later, they mixed with the Red Lady's genetic heritage, along with the "Villabruna" ancestry, which migrated to the region from the Balkans [BAWL-kuhns] via northern Italy during the Magdalenian [Mag-duh-LEE-nee-uhn] period. El Mirón cave is a key site for studying human activity during the Upper Paleolithic [PAY-lee-oh-LIH-thic]. The sedaDNA findings reinforce its importance by providing a genetic record spanning over 46,000 years, covering the transition from Neanderthal [Nee-AN-der-tahl] populations in the Mousterian [Moos-TEER-ee-uhn] period to modern humans in the Magdalenian [Mag-duh-LEE-nee-uhn]. Besides human DNA, the research recovered mitochondrial genomes [MY-toh-KON-dree-uhl JEE-nohmz] from Ice Age animals, including woolly mammoths, rhinoceroses, and reindeer. This contributes to reconstructing the prehistoric European environment and provides a clearer picture of how wildlife and humans responded to past climate change. With the success of sedaDNA analysis in El Mirón, researchers are now exploring extracting nuclear DNA from sediments.