Roman sardines and medieval whales – How ancient DNA helps uncover the past of marine species exploitation in the Iberian Peninsula
22 March 2026
Time: 11:00
Capacity: 25 people
Access: Through the main entrance – Rua D. João de Castro
Language: Portuguese
Ancient DNA (aDNA), the recovery of genetic information from historical, subfossil and fossil specimens, opens a window into the past and can provide a wide range of information that cannot be obtained from modern specimens alone. This genetic material can be recovered from a myriad of different sources, including bones and teeth, hair, preserved soft tissues, coprolites, environmental samples (such as sediments and ice cores), preserved plant material, herbarium specimens such as seeds, and even dental calculus.
Since the first ancient DNA study, which sequenced part of the mitochondrial DNA of an extinct quagga, the field of aDNA has undergone a major revolution, largely due to the introduction of next-generation sequencing, as well as improvements in experimental and analytical methodologies.
In this talk, two case studies will be presented that highlight the potential of ancient DNA and allow us to learn more about the pre-industrial exploitation of sardines and medieval whale hunting along the coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
Free admission, but registration is required via this link.
Researcher: Paula Campos
