New Science
Thursday, 7/2, 08:42 PM
Ancient human DNA found clinging to cave art walls, scientists report
- Researchers have shown that the walls of decorated caves can hold on to human DNA for thousands of years, recovering ancient genetic traces from rock-art sites in Spain and Portugal.
- The proof-of-concept study raises the tantalizing prospect of studying the people who visited — and perhaps made — prehistoric cave art, without digging up the caves at all.