In a more than 3300 year-old skeleton found in Vlaardingen human DNA has been encountered. It is the oldest human nuclear DNA found in the Netherlands so far. Getting such old human DNA from prehistoric bone material means an important breakthrough. From June 12 the skull the DNA came from can be seen in the archaeological showcase of the City Hall of Vlaardingen . In addition, on June 11 a facial reconstruction on the basis of modern forensic techniques will be shown to the public for the first time. Never before has such a facial reconstruction of a person from the Bronze Age (2000 to 800 B.C.) been done in the Netherlands.
Important breakthrough
For DNA test purposes two molars have been extracted from the more than 3300 year-old skull and on the basis of the newest techniques these have been studied by Mrs E. Altena, M.Sc., researcher of old DNA material, under the guidance of professor doctor P. de Knijff from the University Medical Centre at Leiden. The discovery of well-preserved old nuclear DNA in 3300-year-old molars is surprising as well as important. Vlaardingen had already been in the news because it was there that in 2005 by the same laboratory unspoilt nuclear DNA from a molar 1000 years old had been secured. This was then the oldest human DNA ever found in the Netherlands . Now, not even two years later, this ‘record’ has been ‘beaten’ with 2300 years. It is even more special when we consider that at the time the material was collected the researchers had not counted on any future DNA tests on the same material and the chance of contamination with modern DNA was therefore considerable. On the basis of the recently rounded off studies contamination as a source for the found DNA profiles can be eliminated. The discovery shows that research of old human DNA can sometimes be quite successful. It opens up new roads and can be considered a revolution in archaeological research, and not only there. Old human nuclear DNA can provide insight in the evolution and early migration of modern man and in selection processes through time that may have influenced hereditary diseases or possible resistance to them.
‘Krabbeplas-man’
The skeleton providing good DNA results was discovered by children playing at the site of ‘de Krabbeplas’, an artificial lake under development. They warned the police about it and together with the fire brigade these collected the material and had it transported to what was then the State Forensic Laboratory in Rijswijk , where it was examined. Soon after the discovery that the person had been dead for more than 20 years the bone material was released for archaeological purposes. The University of Leiden ’s Archaeological Centre was then able to establish that the so-called Krabbeplas-man was a 43-year-old male, cause of death unknown, who had visited the Vlaardingen region which was then quite swampy. Up till then the skeleton was the only proof of human presence in this part of the Maasmond (the estuary of the river Meuse ) in the Bronze Age (2000 to 800 B.C.). Recently at the location’Vergulde Hand’, a little over a kilometre south of the Krabbeplas, other proof for this was found. It is quite possible that people visited the area for seasonal activities like hunting.
Facial reconstruction
To give the Krabbeplas-man a face again the physical-anthropologist M. d’Hollosy carried out a facial reconstruction based on techniques that are normally used in forensic research, in the same way the reconstructions of the ‘girl of Nulde’ and the ‘Meuse-girl’ were done in recent criminal cases. On the basis of the facial reconstructions these persons have been recognised which proves how lifelike and reliable they can be. The Krabbeplas-man is the first Bronze Age person to have been made a reconstruction of: he has become ‘the face of the period’.
Search for ancient (original) Vlaardingen
The DNA reseach is part of a big cooperation project of the University Medical Centre of Leiden and the City Archive and Archaeology department of the city of Vlaardingen . The project has become known as ‘the search for ancient Vlaardingen ’. In 2006 two things were done in order to find possible offspring of people buried in the city between 1000 and 1050: molars were removed from the 1000 year-old skeletons and saliva was taken from the mouths of 88 descendants of ‘old’ families from Vlaardingen for DNA samples. The results of this study that is almost finished will be made public on July 6 of this year.
Exhibition
In cooperation with the archaeological agency TGV the Archaeological Office of Vlaardingen has set up a showcase in the Vlaardingen City Hall . In the small exhibition the Krabbeplas-man’s skull and its facial reconstruction can be seen. Both were subsidised by the Schiedam Vlaardingen e.o.Fund. The exhibition can be visited for four to five months. The showcase is in the new part of the City Hall at the address: Westnieuwland 6 and is open during office hours.
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