
You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.
You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>');
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://beta.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=undefined&type=result"></script>');
-->
</script>
Microbiology Meets Archaeology: Soil Microbial Communities Reveal Different Human Activities at Archaic Monte Iato (Sixth Century BC)

Microbial ecology has been recognized as useful in archaeological studies. At Archaic Monte Iato in Western Sicily, a native (indigenous) building was discovered. The objective of this study was the first examination of soil microbial communities related to this building. Soil samples were collected from archaeological layers at a ritual deposit (food waste disposal) in the main room and above the fireplace in the annex. Microbial soil characterization included abundance (cellular phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), viable bacterial counts), activity (physiological profiles, enzyme activities of viable bacteria), diversity, and community structure (bacterial and fungal Illumina amplicon sequencing, identification of viable bacteria). PLFA-derived microbial abundance was lower in soils from the fireplace than in soils from the deposit; the opposite was observed with culturable bacteria. Microbial communities in soils from the fireplace had a higher ability to metabolize carboxylic and acetic acids, while those in soils from the deposit metabolized preferentially carbohydrates. The lower deposit layer was characterized by higher total microbial and bacterial abundance and bacterial richness and by a different carbohydrate metabolization profile compared to the upper deposit layer. Microbial community structures in the fireplace were similar and could be distinguished from those in the two deposit layers, which had different microbial communities. Our data confirmed our hypothesis that human consumption habits left traces on microbiota in the archaeological evidence; therefore, microbiological residues as part of the so-called ecofacts are, like artifacts, key indicators of consumer behavior in the past.
- Charles University Czech Republic
- University of Innsbruck Austria
- FWF Austrian Science Fund Austria
- Czech Academy of Sciences Czech Republic
- FWF Austrian Science Fund Austria
DNA, Bacterial, Microbial Consortia, Carboxylic Acids, Acetates, Soil, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Cluster Analysis, Human Activities, Biomass, DNA, Fungal, Soil Microbiology, History, Ancient, Phospholipids, Enzyme Assays, Bacteria, Fatty Acids, Fungi, Heterotrophic Processes, Biodiversity, Bacterial Load, Archaeology
DNA, Bacterial, Microbial Consortia, Carboxylic Acids, Acetates, Soil, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Cluster Analysis, Human Activities, Biomass, DNA, Fungal, Soil Microbiology, History, Ancient, Phospholipids, Enzyme Assays, Bacteria, Fatty Acids, Fungi, Heterotrophic Processes, Biodiversity, Bacterial Load, Archaeology
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).44 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Top 10% impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10%
