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Identification of the Species of Origin of Residual Blood on Lithic Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

D. C. Hyland ,
J. M. Tersak ,
J. M. Adovasio  and
M. I. Siegel
D. C. Hyland
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
J. M. Tersak
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
J. M. Adovasio
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
M. I. Siegel
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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Abstract

The examination of stone-tool edges for blood-antigen residue is a relatively new technique in the archaeological analysis of lithic material. To date, a number of different methods have been employed to determine the species of origin of residual blood, such as Ouchterlony double-diffusion (Ouchterlony 1968) and radioimmunoassays (RIAs) (Lowenstein 1985, 1986). These techniques have been of limited use due to problems of sensitivity, cost, and applicability to archaeological field conditions. Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) utilizing a nitrocellulose protein-binding membrane have shown that it is possible to retain both specificity and sensitivity in a technique that can endure the rigors of archaeological field work and the vicissitudes of differential preservation (Tersak and Hyland 1988). However, due to cross-reactivity, species identification of blood residue using immunological techniques can be problematic when it is necessary to distinguish individual species within a single genus or family. Recent work has shown that careful refinement of antisera can eliminate cross-reactivity, thereby increasing specificity (Berkeley Antibody Company, personal communication 1987). This refinement is accomplished by absorbing any antibodies from the antisera that may cross-react with antigenic sites held in common by closely related species. The ramifications of the successful implementation of this technique are discussed in terms of Paleoindian artifact function as well as paleoeconomic, paleoenvironmental, and paleodietary reconstruction using a case study from the Shoop site in central Pennsylvania.

Résumé

Résumé

El examen delfilo de implementos liticos para la búsqueda de residuos de antigenos sanguíneos es una técnica relativamente nueva en el estudio arqueológico de material lítico. Hasta estafecha varios métodos se han empleado para determinar las especies de origen de sangre residual, tales como doble-difusión Ouchterlonea (Ouchterlony 1968) y radioimmunoassays (RIAs) (Lowenstein 1985, 1986). Estas técnicas han tenido uso limitado debido a problemas de sensibilidad, costo, y aplicabilidad bajo condiciones de terreno arqueológico. La enzima immunoassays (EIAs), utilizando una membrana nitrocelulosa que ata proteinas ha demostrado que es posible retener especificidad y sensibilidad en una técnica quepuede aguantar tanto los rigores de trabajo arqueológico en terreno como las visicitudes de diferentes grados de preservatión. (Tersak and Hyland 1988). Sin embargo, debido a la reactividad entrecruzada, la identificatión de especies atravez de residuos de sangre usando técnicas imunologicas puede ser problematica cuando se hace necesario identificar especies individuales dentro de un genero o familia. Recientemente seha demostrado que el cuidadoso refinamiento de antisera puede eliminar reactividad entrecruzada y aumentar especificidad. (Berkeley Antibody Company, comunicación personal 1987). Este refinamiento se logra absorbiendo cualquier anticuerpo del antisera que pueden tener una reactión cruzada con sitios antigénicos que tienen en común especies estrechamente relacionadas. Las ramificaciones del exitoso uso de esta técnica se discuten en relatión a la función de artefactos paleoindios y también en términos de reconstructión paleoeconómica, paleomedioambiental y paleodietética usando como ejemplo un estudio del sitio Shoop de Pennsylvania.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 55 , Issue 1 , January 1990 , pp. 104 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1990

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