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<p>Underwater archaeological excavations at a shipwreck located in the port of Horta (Azores), uncovered a cargo of elephant ivory tusks, likely from a British merchant vessel that sank in the early 18th century. Since the ship’s route remains uncertain, determining the ivory’s provenance was essential for reconstructing its historical and commercial context. A multidisciplinary analytical approach combining X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis was employed. FTIR spectra displayed a typical dentin profile, with Infrared Splitting Factor values (3.45–3.58) indicating moderate diagenetic alteration but overall good preservation. XRF results reflected both biogenic composition and post-depositional effects, with copper absence in two samples possibly linked to biological variation. Molecular analysis identified an African origin for the ivory, probably obtained during a stopover at an African port, supporting the initial archaeological hypothesis. This study also highlighted that EDTA removal after samples decalcification improves DNA extraction efficiency.</p>

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Ancient waterlogged ivory: tracing its origin through DNA analysis and spectrometric methodologies

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月19日

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  • Marina Costa,
  • Cláudia S. L. Vicente,
  • Margarida Espada,
  • Jorge M. S. Faria,
  • Jorge Ginja Teixeira,
  • José Bettencourt,
  • Dora Martins Teixeira

摘要

Underwater archaeological excavations at a shipwreck located in the port of Horta (Azores), uncovered a cargo of elephant ivory tusks, likely from a British merchant vessel that sank in the early 18th century. Since the ship’s route remains uncertain, determining the ivory’s provenance was essential for reconstructing its historical and commercial context. A multidisciplinary analytical approach combining X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis was employed. FTIR spectra displayed a typical dentin profile, with Infrared Splitting Factor values (3.45–3.58) indicating moderate diagenetic alteration but overall good preservation. XRF results reflected both biogenic composition and post-depositional effects, with copper absence in two samples possibly linked to biological variation. Molecular analysis identified an African origin for the ivory, probably obtained during a stopover at an African port, supporting the initial archaeological hypothesis. This study also highlighted that EDTA removal after samples decalcification improves DNA extraction efficiency.