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J. Conserv. Sci > Volume 40(5); 2024 > Article
Journal of Conservation Science 2024;40(5):757-767.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12654/JCS.2024.40.5.07    Published online December 20, 2024.
Archaeological Wood Species Identification through DNA Barcoding
Donghyeok Jo1, Seung Hee Baek2, Chungoo Park1, Pyung Won Kang2, Sook Chung Shin2, Hyun-Gwan Lee3
1School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
2Hangang Institute of Cultural Heritage, Bucheon 14502, Korea
3PennBIT Co. Ltd., Gwangju 61062, Korea
Correspondence:  Hyun-Gwan Lee, Tel: +82-10-3640-2689, 
Email: pennbit.korea@gmail.com
Received: 26 November 2024   • Revised: 13 December 2024   • Accepted: 17 December 2024
*Donghyeok Jo and Seung Hee Baek contributed equally to this study as co-first authors.
ABSTRACT
Identifying wood species from archaeological artifacts provides crucial information for understanding ancient technological capabilities, resource utilization patterns, paleovegetation, environmental changes, and societal interactions. While traditional microscopical anatomy analysis and common genetic markers (rbcL, rpoB, matK, atp, and 18S) for general plants exhibit limitations in archaeological samples due to DNA degradation and contamination, this study employed the chloroplast trnL gene with shorter sequences for wood identification. Metabarcoding analysis was performed on ancient DNA extracted from wooden components of bronze artifacts (乙-shaped bronze implement, Tubular bronze implement, and Twin-bird Shaped Pommel) excavated from the early Iron Age Namyangju site, targeting the trnL (UAA) intron P6 loop. Using our classifier with reference database constructed from NCBI GenBank and expanded plant database, the analysis identified eight plant families (Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Marantaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Amaryllidaceae). Notably, Rosaceae showed significant presence across all samples (乙-shaped bronze implement: 33.05%, Tubular bronze implement 1: 3.17%, Tubular bronze implement 2: 29.09%, Twin-bird Shaped Pommel: 45.2%), suggesting the use of native woody Rosaceae species. This genetic approach successfully refined the identification of previously unspecified “broadleaf tree/hardwood” specimens to the family level, demonstrating its effectiveness as a complementary method in archaeological wood identification. The results not only provide insights into ancient wood resource utilization patterns but establish a methodological framework for future archaeobotanical studies using ancient DNA analysis.
Key Words: Archaeological wood identification, Ancient DNA, Metabarcoding, trnL gene, Bronze artifacts
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