Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T11:16:03.610Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Identification of the Species of Origin of Residual Blood on Lithic Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

D. C. Hyland ,
J. M. Tersak ,
J. M. Adovasio  and
M. I. Siegel
D. C. Hyland
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
J. M. Tersak
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
J. M. Adovasio
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
M. I. Siegel
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The examination of stone-tool edges for blood-antigen residue is a relatively new technique in the archaeological analysis of lithic material. To date, a number of different methods have been employed to determine the species of origin of residual blood, such as Ouchterlony double-diffusion (Ouchterlony 1968) and radioimmunoassays (RIAs) (Lowenstein 1985, 1986). These techniques have been of limited use due to problems of sensitivity, cost, and applicability to archaeological field conditions. Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) utilizing a nitrocellulose protein-binding membrane have shown that it is possible to retain both specificity and sensitivity in a technique that can endure the rigors of archaeological field work and the vicissitudes of differential preservation (Tersak and Hyland 1988). However, due to cross-reactivity, species identification of blood residue using immunological techniques can be problematic when it is necessary to distinguish individual species within a single genus or family. Recent work has shown that careful refinement of antisera can eliminate cross-reactivity, thereby increasing specificity (Berkeley Antibody Company, personal communication 1987). This refinement is accomplished by absorbing any antibodies from the antisera that may cross-react with antigenic sites held in common by closely related species. The ramifications of the successful implementation of this technique are discussed in terms of Paleoindian artifact function as well as paleoeconomic, paleoenvironmental, and paleodietary reconstruction using a case study from the Shoop site in central Pennsylvania.

Résumé

Résumé

El examen delfilo de implementos liticos para la búsqueda de residuos de antigenos sanguíneos es una técnica relativamente nueva en el estudio arqueológico de material lítico. Hasta estafecha varios métodos se han empleado para determinar las especies de origen de sangre residual, tales como doble-difusión Ouchterlonea (Ouchterlony 1968) y radioimmunoassays (RIAs) (Lowenstein 1985, 1986). Estas técnicas han tenido uso limitado debido a problemas de sensibilidad, costo, y aplicabilidad bajo condiciones de terreno arqueológico. La enzima immunoassays (EIAs), utilizando una membrana nitrocelulosa que ata proteinas ha demostrado que es posible retener especificidad y sensibilidad en una técnica quepuede aguantar tanto los rigores de trabajo arqueológico en terreno como las visicitudes de diferentes grados de preservatión. (Tersak and Hyland 1988). Sin embargo, debido a la reactividad entrecruzada, la identificatión de especies atravez de residuos de sangre usando técnicas imunologicas puede ser problematica cuando se hace necesario identificar especies individuales dentro de un genero o familia. Recientemente seha demostrado que el cuidadoso refinamiento de antisera puede eliminar reactividad entrecruzada y aumentar especificidad. (Berkeley Antibody Company, comunicación personal 1987). Este refinamiento se logra absorbiendo cualquier anticuerpo del antisera que pueden tener una reactión cruzada con sitios antigénicos que tienen en común especies estrechamente relacionadas. Las ramificaciones del exitoso uso de esta técnica se discuten en relatión a la función de artefactos paleoindios y también en términos de reconstructión paleoeconómica, paleomedioambiental y paleodietética usando como ejemplo un estudio del sitio Shoop de Pennsylvania.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 55 , Issue 1 , January 1990 , pp. 104 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Allison, M. J., Hossaini, A. A., Munizaga, J., and Fung, R. 1978 ABO Blood Groups in Chilean and Peruvian Mummies. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 49: 139–142.Google Scholar
Barraco, R. A. 1978 Preservation of Proteins in Mummified Tissues. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 48: 487–492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carr, K. 1987 Continuing Research at the Shoop Site—A Paleoindian Occupation in the Ridge and Valley Section of Central Pennsylvania. Paper presented at the Eastern States Archaeological Federation Annual Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina.Google Scholar
Carr, K. 1988 Environmental Reconstruction at a Paleoindian Site in Central Pennsylvania. Paper presented at the Fifty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Morgantown, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Downs, E. F. 1985 An Approach to Detecting and Identifying Blood Residues on Archaeological Stone Artifacts: A Feasibility Study. Ms. on file, Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Gurfinkel, D. M., and Franklin, U. M. 1988 A Study of the Feasibility of Detecting Blood Residue on Artifacts. Journal of Archaeological Science 15: 83–97.Google Scholar
Lowenstein, J. M. 1985 Molecular Approaches to the Identification of Species. American Scientist 73: 541–547.Google Scholar
Lowenstein, J. M. 1986 Evolutionary Applications of Radioimmunoassay. American Biotechnology Laboratory 4(6): 13–15.Google Scholar
Lowenstein, J. M., Molleson, T., and Washburn, S. L. 1982 Piltdown Jaw Confirmed as Orang. Nature 299: 294.Google Scholar
Loy, T. H. 1983 Prehistoric Blood Residues: Detection on Tool Surfaces and Identification of Species of Origin. Science 220: 1269–1271.Google Scholar
Loy, T. H. 1987 Recent Advances in Blood Residue Analysis. In Archaeometry: Further Australasian Studies, edited by Ambrose, W. R. and M, J.. Mummery, J., pp. 57–65. Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Loy, T. H., and Nelson, D. E. 1987 Potential Applications of Organic Residues on Ancient Tools. In Proceedings of the Twenty-Third International Archaeometry Symposium, edited by Olin, J. and Blackmun, J., pp. 179–185. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Nelson, D. E., Loy, T. H., Vogel, J. S., and Southon, J. R. 1986 Radiocarbon Dating Blood Residues on Prehistoric Stone Tools. Radiocarbon 28: 170–174.Google Scholar
Oates, D. W., Jochum, C. A., Pearson, K. A., and Hoilien, C. A. 1983 Field Technique for the Identification of Deer Blood. Journal of Forensic Science 28: 781–785.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ouchterlony, O. 1968 Handbook of Immunodiffusion and Immunoelectrophoresis. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Prager, E. M., and Wilson, A. C. 1980 Mammoth Albumin. Science 209: 287–289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roitt, I. M. 1984 Essential Immunology. 5th ed. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, England.Google Scholar
Semenov, S. A. 1964 Prehistoric Technology. Translated by Thompson, M. W.. Barnes and Noble, New York.Google Scholar
Sensabaugh, G. F., Wilson, A. C., and Kirk, P. L. 1971 Protein Stability in Preserved Biological Remains, Parts I and II. International Journal of Biochemistry 2: 545–568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinclair, A., and Slattery, W. 1982 Identification of Meat According to Species by Isoelectric Focussing. Australian Veterinary Journal 58: 77–80.Google Scholar
Tersak, J. M., and Hyland, D. C. 1988 Application of Nitrocellulose Membrane: A New Method for Identification of Residual Blood on Lithic Material. Ms. on file, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.Google Scholar
Tijssen, P. 1985 Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays. Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, vol. 15, edited by Burdon, R. H. and H, P.. van, Knippenberg. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, Netherlands.Google Scholar
Washino, R. K. 1977 Identification of Host Blood Meals in Arthropods. U. S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Willey, R., and Sabloff, J. 1980 A History of American Archaeology. 2nd ed. W. H. Freeman, New York.Google Scholar