'Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory

Jorune Sakalauskaite; Søren H. Andersen; Paolo Biagi; Maria A. Borrello; Théophile Cocquerez; André Carlo Colonese; Federica Dal Bello; Alberto Girod; Marion Heumüller; Hannah Koon; Giorgia Mandili; Claudio Medana; Kirsty Eh Penkman; Laurent Plasseraud; Helmut Schlichtherle; Sheila Taylor; Caroline Tokarski; Jérôme Thomas; Julie Wilson; Frédéric Marin; Beatrice Demarchi

doi:10.7554/eLife.45644

'Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory

Jorune Sakalauskaite, Søren H. Andersen, Paolo Biagi, Maria A. Borrello, Théophile Cocquerez, André Carlo Colonese, Federica Dal Bello, Alberto Girod, Marion Heumüller, Hannah Koon, Giorgia Mandili, Claudio Medana, Kirsty Eh Penkman, Laurent Plasseraud, Helmut Schlichtherle, Sheila Taylor, Caroline Tokarski, Jérôme Thomas, Julie Wilson, Frédéric MarinBeatrice Demarchi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The extensive use of mollusc shell as a versatile raw material is testament to its importance in prehistoric times. The consistent choice of certain species for different purposes, including the making of ornaments, is a direct representation of how humans viewed and exploited their environment. The necessary taxonomic information, however, is often impossible to obtain from objects that are small, heavily worked or degraded. Here we propose a novel biogeochemical approach to track the biological origin of prehistoric mollusc shell. We conducted an in-depth study of archaeological ornaments using microstructural, geochemical and biomolecular analyses, including 'palaeoshellomics', the first application of palaeoproteomics to mollusc shells (and indeed to any invertebrate calcified tissue). We reveal the consistent use of locally-sourced freshwater mother-of-pearl for the standardized manufacture of 'double-buttons'. This craft is found throughout Europe between 4200-3800 BCE, highlighting the ornament-makers' profound knowledge of the biogeosphere and the existence of cross-cultural traditions.

Original language	English
Number of pages	65
Journal	eLife
Volume	8
Early online date	7 May 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.45644
Publication status	Published - 7 May 2019

Bibliographical note

Keywords

biochemistry
biomineralization
chemical biology
evolutionary biology
mollusc shells
ornaments
palaeoproteomics
prehistory
tandem mass spectrometry

Access to Document

10.7554/eLife.45644

elife-45644-v2
Copyright Sakalauskaite et al.
Final published version, 9.42 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Sakalauskaite, J., Andersen, S. H., Biagi, P., Borrello, M. A., Cocquerez, T., Colonese, A. C., Dal Bello, F., Girod, A., Heumüller, M., Koon, H., Mandili, G., Medana, C., Penkman, K. E., Plasseraud, L., Schlichtherle, H., Taylor, S., Tokarski, C., Thomas, J., Wilson, J., ... Demarchi, B. (2019). 'Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory. eLife, 8. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.45644

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abstract = "The extensive use of mollusc shell as a versatile raw material is testament to its importance in prehistoric times. The consistent choice of certain species for different purposes, including the making of ornaments, is a direct representation of how humans viewed and exploited their environment. The necessary taxonomic information, however, is often impossible to obtain from objects that are small, heavily worked or degraded. Here we propose a novel biogeochemical approach to track the biological origin of prehistoric mollusc shell. We conducted an in-depth study of archaeological ornaments using microstructural, geochemical and biomolecular analyses, including 'palaeoshellomics', the first application of palaeoproteomics to mollusc shells (and indeed to any invertebrate calcified tissue). We reveal the consistent use of locally-sourced freshwater mother-of-pearl for the standardized manufacture of 'double-buttons'. This craft is found throughout Europe between 4200-3800 BCE, highlighting the ornament-makers' profound knowledge of the biogeosphere and the existence of cross-cultural traditions.",

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Sakalauskaite, J, Andersen, SH, Biagi, P, Borrello, MA, Cocquerez, T, Colonese, AC, Dal Bello, F, Girod, A, Heumüller, M, Koon, H, Mandili, G, Medana, C, Penkman, KE, Plasseraud, L, Schlichtherle, H, Taylor, S, Tokarski, C, Thomas, J, Wilson, J, Marin, F & Demarchi, B 2019, ''Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory', eLife, vol. 8. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.45644

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AU - Sakalauskaite, Jorune

AU - Andersen, Søren H.

AU - Biagi, Paolo

AU - Borrello, Maria A.

AU - Cocquerez, Théophile

AU - Colonese, André Carlo

AU - Dal Bello, Federica

AU - Girod, Alberto

AU - Heumüller, Marion

AU - Koon, Hannah

AU - Mandili, Giorgia

AU - Medana, Claudio

AU - Penkman, Kirsty Eh

AU - Plasseraud, Laurent

AU - Schlichtherle, Helmut

AU - Taylor, Sheila

AU - Tokarski, Caroline

AU - Thomas, Jérôme

AU - Wilson, Julie

AU - Marin, Frédéric

AU - Demarchi, Beatrice

PY - 2019/5/7

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N2 - The extensive use of mollusc shell as a versatile raw material is testament to its importance in prehistoric times. The consistent choice of certain species for different purposes, including the making of ornaments, is a direct representation of how humans viewed and exploited their environment. The necessary taxonomic information, however, is often impossible to obtain from objects that are small, heavily worked or degraded. Here we propose a novel biogeochemical approach to track the biological origin of prehistoric mollusc shell. We conducted an in-depth study of archaeological ornaments using microstructural, geochemical and biomolecular analyses, including 'palaeoshellomics', the first application of palaeoproteomics to mollusc shells (and indeed to any invertebrate calcified tissue). We reveal the consistent use of locally-sourced freshwater mother-of-pearl for the standardized manufacture of 'double-buttons'. This craft is found throughout Europe between 4200-3800 BCE, highlighting the ornament-makers' profound knowledge of the biogeosphere and the existence of cross-cultural traditions.

AB - The extensive use of mollusc shell as a versatile raw material is testament to its importance in prehistoric times. The consistent choice of certain species for different purposes, including the making of ornaments, is a direct representation of how humans viewed and exploited their environment. The necessary taxonomic information, however, is often impossible to obtain from objects that are small, heavily worked or degraded. Here we propose a novel biogeochemical approach to track the biological origin of prehistoric mollusc shell. We conducted an in-depth study of archaeological ornaments using microstructural, geochemical and biomolecular analyses, including 'palaeoshellomics', the first application of palaeoproteomics to mollusc shells (and indeed to any invertebrate calcified tissue). We reveal the consistent use of locally-sourced freshwater mother-of-pearl for the standardized manufacture of 'double-buttons'. This craft is found throughout Europe between 4200-3800 BCE, highlighting the ornament-makers' profound knowledge of the biogeosphere and the existence of cross-cultural traditions.

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KW - biomineralization

KW - chemical biology

KW - evolutionary biology

KW - mollusc shells

KW - ornaments

KW - palaeoproteomics

KW - prehistory

KW - tandem mass spectrometry

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U2 - 10.7554/eLife.45644

DO - 10.7554/eLife.45644

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AN - SCOPUS:85067266239

SN - 2050-084X

VL - 8

JO - eLife

JF - eLife

ER -

'Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

mAARiTIME, MC ERG: Marine Amino Acid Racemisation Investigation of the Mediterranean

Cite this

'Palaeoshellomics' reveals the use of freshwater mother-of-pearl in prehistory

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

mAARiTIME, MC ERG: Marine Amino Acid Racemisation Investigation of the Mediterranean

Cite this