Biomolecular archaeology of wheat: Past, present and future

Abstract

The study of ancient biomolecules in preserved wheat remains could provide information on both the initial development of agriculture and its subsequent trajectories and spread in relation to changing human society. We have detected ancient DNA in extracts prepared from charred, waterlogged and mineralized wheat seeds, and have used the polymerase chain reaction to study specific genetic regions of the ancient DNA preserved in Triticum spelta from Danebury, UK and T. dicoccum from Assiros, Greece. We discuss future developments in the biomolecular archaeology of wheat, including the possibility of a genetic test that may enable tetraploid and hexaploid wheat remains to be distinguished by ancient DNA analysis.