PROJECTS TASKS

The ARCHAIC project will address key questions about evolution, local domestication and improvement of cattle. This research is INNOVATIVE because it will make use of cutting­edge molecular biology methods for ancient DNA analyses, but also it will embrace zooarchaeological, archaeological and genetic methods for integrative hypothesis testing.

WE WILL

Complete a thorough sampling of Bos remains from Iberia/North Africa spanning the last 30,000 years. We will cover key historic periods and record zooarchaeological information.

Carry out a phylochronological genetic analysis of mitochondrial aDNA sequences from Iberian/North African Bos, using high­-throughput sequencing, for a comprehensive and comparative analysis with cattle from other regions.

Use high-trhoughput sequencing to investigate the variation over time of genomic regions associated with phenotypic traits. Results from genetic analyses will be integrated with zooarchaeological information and historical records.