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Exploring faunal remains at Wogan Cavern using ancient DNA

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Project Description

Dramatic climatic and environmental fluctuations in the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene led to widespread shifts in the distribution and abundance of many species.


Recent excavations at Wogan Cavern, located under Pembroke Castle, Wales, have recovered evidence of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer occupation dating to c.11,000 years, as well as older Palaeolithic occupations. Alongside evidence of human occupation are faunal remains including large numbers of small mammals. Microfauna in particular are an important environmental indicators, as they can be more readily affected by shifts in ecology/climate.


Advances in the field of ancient DNA have had a significant impact on our ability to analyse genomic data from archaeological sites. DNA can be successfully retrieved from skeletal remains but also ancient sediments and used to assess questions relating to taxonomy, population dynamics: migration, diversity and ancestry. Pilot studies have already demonstrated the preservation of ancient DNA in bones and sediments at Wogan Cavern, which this PhD will expand upon. The research will focus on analysing DNA from small mammals remains from the site to understand diversity and occupation and whether we can detect localised extinction and recolonisation events. There will also be scope to analyse faunal DNA from ancient sediments from the site, all of which will be contextualised with data from across Britain and Europe during the Late Pleistocene/early Holocene.

Research themes
Project Specific Training

The ancient DNA and laboratory side of the project will be covered by S Brace (NHM) She and her team (students and postdocs) will train the student (one-to one) in laboratory techniques and bioinformatics and analyses. S Parfitt (UCL) will train the student (one to one) in small mammal identifications and ecology. R Dinnis (UWTSD) leads the Wogan Cavern excavations and will help supervise understanding of the site/time period. 

Potential Career Trajectory

A research career in academia in ancient DNA, genetics, bioinformatics, archaeology, zooarchaeology. Working at a university or a museum. Career in industry involving genetics/bioinformatics background.

Project supervisor/s
Louise Martin
Archaeology
UCL
louise.martin@ucl.ac.uk
Supervision balance
70:30