Using Ancient DNA Analysis and Radiocarbon Dating to Determine the Provenance of an Unusual Whaling Artifact

摘要: Natural history collections provide a critical temporal view of past biodiversity and are instrumental in the study extinct populations. However, value historical specimens relies on correct species identification, collection date locality. The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) holds an unusual artefact – electric lamp made from dried whale penis with unknown age, species-of-origin We used ancient DNA methods to generate partial mitochondrial (mtDNA) genome sequence establish identity provenance whale, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating determine approximate year death. Mitochondrial sequences 16S rRNA gene control region indicate that specimen belonged sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) modern age suggests it was collected post-1950’s. were unable locality due very broad geographic distribution its mtDNA haplotype. Our results suggest possibly as souvenir during post-war whaling, where nearly 30,000 male whales killed annually. This supports extends previous research applies techniques enhance natural collections, by identifying origin specimens.