Uncovering the Identity of a Stone Age Pendant Wearer through Ancient DNA Analysis

Scientists have identified the owner of a 20,000-year-old elk tooth pendant found in Siberia's Denisova Cave using a new method for extracting ancient DNA. The pendant belonged to a Stone Age woman closely related to a population of hunter-gatherers known to have lived in a part of Siberia east of the cave site. The method can isolate DNA that was present in skin cells, sweat or other bodily fluids and was absorbed by certain types of porous material including bones, teeth and tusks when handled by someone thousands of years ago. The pendant is the first prehistoric artifact linked by genetic sleuthing to a specific person.