NCJ Number
246432
Journal
Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 7 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2013 Pages: 581-586
Date Published
December 2013
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Archaeological excavations conducted at an early mediaeval cemetery in Volders Tyrol, Austria produced 141 complete skeletal remains dated between the 5th/6th and 12th/13th centuries.
Abstract
Archaeological excavations conducted at an early mediaeval cemetery in Volders Tyrol, Austria produced 141 complete skeletal remains dated between the 5th/6th and 12th/13th centuries. These skeletons represent one of the largest historical series of human remains ever discovered in the East Alpine region. Little historical information is available for this region and time period. The good state of preservation of these bioarchaeological finds offered the opportunity of performing molecular genetic investigations. Adequate DNA extraction methods were tested in the attempt to obtain as high DNA yields as possible for further analyses. Molecular genetic sex-typing using a dedicated PCR multiplex Genderplex gave interpretable results in 88 remains, 78 of which had previously been sexed based on morphological features. We observed a discrepancy in sex determination between the two methods in 21 cases. An unbiased follow-up morphological examination of these finds showed congruence with the DNA results in all but five samples.