Alice Storey | Consultant - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Alice Storey
California Archaeology, 2012
Archaeology in Oceania, 2013
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2013
Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistori... more Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistoric movement of humans across the Pacific for almost two decades. Analyses of archaeological remains and DNA sequences of plants, animals, and microorganisms moved by or with humans have contributed to understanding prehistoric migration, trade, exchange, and sometimes revealed the geographic origins of particular plants and animals. This paper presents the basic elements of a DNAbased commensal model and discusses the phylogenetic and population genetic approaches these models employ. A clear delineation of the underlying assumptions of these models and the background information required to construct them have yet to appear in the literature. This not only provides a framework with which to construct a commensal 37 Alice A. Storey et al.
entry in the Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopaedia (pg 365)
entry in the Archaeology of Food an Encyclopaedia (pg 328)
entry in the Archaeology of Food an Encyclopaedia (pg 98)
In 2007, based on direct radiocarbon dates, we presented evidence that chickens were introduced t... more In 2007, based on direct radiocarbon dates, we presented evidence that chickens were introduced to Chile before Europeans first made contact with the New World. The pre-Columbian age of the chicken bones and their mtDNA affinities with one of two prehistoric Pacific chicken haplogroups (E) led us to conclude that Polynesia was the most likely origin for these pre-Columbian chickens. Subsequently, the mtDNA and radiocarbon evidence provided has been applied to a range of studies and occasionally reinterpreted. This has revealed issues related to the brevity of the initial report in 2007. Here, we provide a full discussion of the evidence, including the relevant archaeological, historical and biological information necessary to provide the context for interpreting genetic analyses and understanding their implications for addressing archaeological questions. We include a comprehensive analysis of the isotope data within a geographical and temporally relevant dataset to verify the pre-Columbian age of the El Arenal chickens. In addition, we provide longer DNA sequences obtained from some of the ancient Chilean chicken remains to address objections raised by critics and to demonstrate that longer sequences do not change the observed affinities of the mtDNA sequences, nor their interpretation. In this analysis, historical information is used to critically evaluate the results of phylogenetic analyses. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that the examination of modern chicken DNA sequences does not contribute to our understanding of the origins of Chile’s earliest chickens. Interpretations based on poorly sourced and documented modern chicken populations, divorced from the archaeological and historical evidence, do not withstand scrutiny. Instead, this expanded account will confirm the pre-Columbian age of the El Arenal remains and lend support to our original hypothesis that their appearance in South America is most likely due to Polynesian contact with the Americas in prehistory.
Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistori... more Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistoric movement of humans across the Pacific for almost two decades. Analyses of archaeological remains and DNA sequences of plants, animals, and microorganisms moved by or with humans have contributed to understanding prehistoric migration, trade, exchange, and sometimes revealed the geographic origins of particular plants and animals. This paper presents the basic elements of a DNA-based commensal model and discusses the phylogenetic and population genetic approaches these models employ. A clear delineation of the underlying assumptions of these models and the background information required to construct them have yet to appear in the literature. This not only provides a framework with which to construct a commensal model but also highlights gaps in current knowledge. The ways in which commensal models have enriched archaeological reconstructions will be highlighted, as will their current limitations. With these limitations in mind, options will be outlined for augmenting commensal models through the application of established techniques and new technologies in order to provide the best tools for reconstructing ancient human mobility and behavior in the Pacific and beyond.
Data from morphology, linguistics, history, and archaeology have all been used to trace the dispe... more Data from morphology, linguistics, history, and archaeology have all been used to trace the dispersal of chickens from Asian domestication centers to their current global distribution. Each provides a unique perspective which can aid in the reconstruction of prehistory. This study expands on previous investigations by adding a temporal component from ancient DNA and, in some cases, direct dating of bones of individual chickens from a variety of sites in Europe, the Pacific, and the Americas. The results from the ancient DNA analyses of forty-eight archaeologically derived chicken bones provide support for archaeological hypotheses about the prehistoric human transport of chickens. Haplogroup E mtDNA signatures have been amplified from directly dated samples originating in Europe at 1000 B.P. and in the Pacific at 3000 B.P. indicating multiple prehistoric dispersals from a single Asian centre. These two dispersal pathways converged in the Americas where chickens were introduced both by Polynesians and later by Europeans. The results of this study also highlight the inappropriate application of the small stretch of D-loop, traditionally amplified for use in phylogenetic studies, to understanding discrete episodes of chicken translocation in the past. The results of this study lead to the proposal of four hypotheses which will require further scrutiny and rigorous future testing.
The publications by Storey et al. (2007, 2008a, 2008b) describing the discovery and radiocarbon d... more The publications by Storey et al. (2007, 2008a, 2008b) describing the discovery and radiocarbon dating of pre-Columbian chicken remains from the archaeological site of El Arenal-1 in south central Chile reinvigorated longstanding debates about the presence of prehistoric domestic chickens in the Americas. Some have questioned the validity of the link between prehistoric Polynesian voyagers and the pre-Columbian chickens of El Arenal-1, requesting more details to verify the dates and the likely origin of the introduction. In this paper we provide an expanded account regarding the dating of the chicken remains from the site of El Arenal-1 in order to reaffirm their authenticity. Their prehistoric age established, we focus attention on a critical reanalysis of arguments surrounding the source of the first introductions of chickens to the Americas. These include historic accounts and hypotheses developed as a result of comparative morphology. Particular attention is focused on assessing the utility of evidence from the study of physical
characteristics of both black-boned, black-meat chickens and the phenotypic traits of the Araucana (Gallus inauris) breed to support pre-Columbian introductions. As a result, we reinforce the previous hypothesis that a pre-Columbian introduction of chickens from Polynesia is the most parsimonious explanation for the available evidence.
This paper covers the archaeological, historical, genetic, and linguistic evidence pertaining to ... more This paper covers the archaeological, historical, genetic, and linguistic evidence pertaining to the dispersal of chickens to the Americas in the historic and prehistoric periods. In addition it provides a detailed discussion of archaeological, radiocarbon,
isotopic, and mtDNA evidence from chicken remains recovered from the pre-Columbian site of El Arenal in Chile. Here we also focus further attention on the conclusions of Gongora et al. based on DNA sequences that came from modern chickens exhibiting some, but not all, of the Araucanian morphological traits. Questions raised by Gongora et al. are addressed using additional literature.This critical review upholds the original interpretations that the pre-Columbian chickens of Chile are most likely of Polynesian origin.
This chapter describes the elements of successful commensal models and examines how these models ... more This chapter describes the elements of successful commensal models and examines how these models may pertain to finding evidence for prehistoric contact between Polynesia and the Americas. A critical review of the available data which may be used to evaluate prehistoric transference of organisms between Polynesia and the Americas in prehistory is presented. This should clarify the current state of knowledge regarding organisms with real potential for identifying contact as well as providing the means by which others may be reasonably excluded.
This chapter details the use and abuse of a Cultural Historical approach and the concepts of diff... more This chapter details the use and abuse of a Cultural Historical approach and the concepts of diffusion in the prehistory of the Americas and the Pacific. We argue that while in the past diffusion was often used to diminish the inventiveness, abilities and innovations of the First Nations of the Americas and thus was poorly applied to understanding the past. However, the complete dismissal of cultural contact and the transfer of ideas in the archaeological record disregards important aspects of prehistory. This chapter summaries diffusion in American archaeology, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Scattered and fragmentary human remains in Pacific archaeological contexts were once assumed to b... more Scattered and fragmentary human remains in Pacific archaeological contexts were once assumed to be proof positive of cannibal activity. Only recently have intensive studies produced a definitive set of diagnostic criteria to identify the archaeological signature for cannibalism in the prehistoric Pacific. Careful examination of fracture types, mortuary practise, medical treatment, and the use of human bone for tool manufacture are necessary to fully evaluate a collection of human bone for tangible evidence of cannibalistic activity. A detailed analysis of four discrete assemblages of fragmentary human remains collected from the Ha’apai Islands in Tonga led to the identification of a human fibula fragment which had been modified and heavily used, likely as a sailing or thatching needle. This is one of only three tools of human bone recovered from in situ Lapita associated archaeological deposits in the region. The presence of human bone tools in Lapita aged deposits in Tonga and Fiji and mortuary evidence for the removal of long bones from the cemetery site of Teouma in Vanuatu, warrants further study of assemblages of fragmentary remains recovered across the Pacific to search for tools of human bone. It also suggests that cutmarks and patina observed on human remains within assemblages of scattered human remains may be interpreted as something other than cannibal refuse.
California Archaeology, 2012
Archaeology in Oceania, 2013
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2013
Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistori... more Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistoric movement of humans across the Pacific for almost two decades. Analyses of archaeological remains and DNA sequences of plants, animals, and microorganisms moved by or with humans have contributed to understanding prehistoric migration, trade, exchange, and sometimes revealed the geographic origins of particular plants and animals. This paper presents the basic elements of a DNAbased commensal model and discusses the phylogenetic and population genetic approaches these models employ. A clear delineation of the underlying assumptions of these models and the background information required to construct them have yet to appear in the literature. This not only provides a framework with which to construct a commensal 37 Alice A. Storey et al.
entry in the Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopaedia (pg 365)
entry in the Archaeology of Food an Encyclopaedia (pg 328)
entry in the Archaeology of Food an Encyclopaedia (pg 98)
In 2007, based on direct radiocarbon dates, we presented evidence that chickens were introduced t... more In 2007, based on direct radiocarbon dates, we presented evidence that chickens were introduced to Chile before Europeans first made contact with the New World. The pre-Columbian age of the chicken bones and their mtDNA affinities with one of two prehistoric Pacific chicken haplogroups (E) led us to conclude that Polynesia was the most likely origin for these pre-Columbian chickens. Subsequently, the mtDNA and radiocarbon evidence provided has been applied to a range of studies and occasionally reinterpreted. This has revealed issues related to the brevity of the initial report in 2007. Here, we provide a full discussion of the evidence, including the relevant archaeological, historical and biological information necessary to provide the context for interpreting genetic analyses and understanding their implications for addressing archaeological questions. We include a comprehensive analysis of the isotope data within a geographical and temporally relevant dataset to verify the pre-Columbian age of the El Arenal chickens. In addition, we provide longer DNA sequences obtained from some of the ancient Chilean chicken remains to address objections raised by critics and to demonstrate that longer sequences do not change the observed affinities of the mtDNA sequences, nor their interpretation. In this analysis, historical information is used to critically evaluate the results of phylogenetic analyses. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that the examination of modern chicken DNA sequences does not contribute to our understanding of the origins of Chile’s earliest chickens. Interpretations based on poorly sourced and documented modern chicken populations, divorced from the archaeological and historical evidence, do not withstand scrutiny. Instead, this expanded account will confirm the pre-Columbian age of the El Arenal remains and lend support to our original hypothesis that their appearance in South America is most likely due to Polynesian contact with the Americas in prehistory.
Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistori... more Components of the Pacific transported landscape have been used as proxies to trace the prehistoric movement of humans across the Pacific for almost two decades. Analyses of archaeological remains and DNA sequences of plants, animals, and microorganisms moved by or with humans have contributed to understanding prehistoric migration, trade, exchange, and sometimes revealed the geographic origins of particular plants and animals. This paper presents the basic elements of a DNA-based commensal model and discusses the phylogenetic and population genetic approaches these models employ. A clear delineation of the underlying assumptions of these models and the background information required to construct them have yet to appear in the literature. This not only provides a framework with which to construct a commensal model but also highlights gaps in current knowledge. The ways in which commensal models have enriched archaeological reconstructions will be highlighted, as will their current limitations. With these limitations in mind, options will be outlined for augmenting commensal models through the application of established techniques and new technologies in order to provide the best tools for reconstructing ancient human mobility and behavior in the Pacific and beyond.
Data from morphology, linguistics, history, and archaeology have all been used to trace the dispe... more Data from morphology, linguistics, history, and archaeology have all been used to trace the dispersal of chickens from Asian domestication centers to their current global distribution. Each provides a unique perspective which can aid in the reconstruction of prehistory. This study expands on previous investigations by adding a temporal component from ancient DNA and, in some cases, direct dating of bones of individual chickens from a variety of sites in Europe, the Pacific, and the Americas. The results from the ancient DNA analyses of forty-eight archaeologically derived chicken bones provide support for archaeological hypotheses about the prehistoric human transport of chickens. Haplogroup E mtDNA signatures have been amplified from directly dated samples originating in Europe at 1000 B.P. and in the Pacific at 3000 B.P. indicating multiple prehistoric dispersals from a single Asian centre. These two dispersal pathways converged in the Americas where chickens were introduced both by Polynesians and later by Europeans. The results of this study also highlight the inappropriate application of the small stretch of D-loop, traditionally amplified for use in phylogenetic studies, to understanding discrete episodes of chicken translocation in the past. The results of this study lead to the proposal of four hypotheses which will require further scrutiny and rigorous future testing.
The publications by Storey et al. (2007, 2008a, 2008b) describing the discovery and radiocarbon d... more The publications by Storey et al. (2007, 2008a, 2008b) describing the discovery and radiocarbon dating of pre-Columbian chicken remains from the archaeological site of El Arenal-1 in south central Chile reinvigorated longstanding debates about the presence of prehistoric domestic chickens in the Americas. Some have questioned the validity of the link between prehistoric Polynesian voyagers and the pre-Columbian chickens of El Arenal-1, requesting more details to verify the dates and the likely origin of the introduction. In this paper we provide an expanded account regarding the dating of the chicken remains from the site of El Arenal-1 in order to reaffirm their authenticity. Their prehistoric age established, we focus attention on a critical reanalysis of arguments surrounding the source of the first introductions of chickens to the Americas. These include historic accounts and hypotheses developed as a result of comparative morphology. Particular attention is focused on assessing the utility of evidence from the study of physical
characteristics of both black-boned, black-meat chickens and the phenotypic traits of the Araucana (Gallus inauris) breed to support pre-Columbian introductions. As a result, we reinforce the previous hypothesis that a pre-Columbian introduction of chickens from Polynesia is the most parsimonious explanation for the available evidence.
This paper covers the archaeological, historical, genetic, and linguistic evidence pertaining to ... more This paper covers the archaeological, historical, genetic, and linguistic evidence pertaining to the dispersal of chickens to the Americas in the historic and prehistoric periods. In addition it provides a detailed discussion of archaeological, radiocarbon,
isotopic, and mtDNA evidence from chicken remains recovered from the pre-Columbian site of El Arenal in Chile. Here we also focus further attention on the conclusions of Gongora et al. based on DNA sequences that came from modern chickens exhibiting some, but not all, of the Araucanian morphological traits. Questions raised by Gongora et al. are addressed using additional literature.This critical review upholds the original interpretations that the pre-Columbian chickens of Chile are most likely of Polynesian origin.
This chapter describes the elements of successful commensal models and examines how these models ... more This chapter describes the elements of successful commensal models and examines how these models may pertain to finding evidence for prehistoric contact between Polynesia and the Americas. A critical review of the available data which may be used to evaluate prehistoric transference of organisms between Polynesia and the Americas in prehistory is presented. This should clarify the current state of knowledge regarding organisms with real potential for identifying contact as well as providing the means by which others may be reasonably excluded.
This chapter details the use and abuse of a Cultural Historical approach and the concepts of diff... more This chapter details the use and abuse of a Cultural Historical approach and the concepts of diffusion in the prehistory of the Americas and the Pacific. We argue that while in the past diffusion was often used to diminish the inventiveness, abilities and innovations of the First Nations of the Americas and thus was poorly applied to understanding the past. However, the complete dismissal of cultural contact and the transfer of ideas in the archaeological record disregards important aspects of prehistory. This chapter summaries diffusion in American archaeology, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Scattered and fragmentary human remains in Pacific archaeological contexts were once assumed to b... more Scattered and fragmentary human remains in Pacific archaeological contexts were once assumed to be proof positive of cannibal activity. Only recently have intensive studies produced a definitive set of diagnostic criteria to identify the archaeological signature for cannibalism in the prehistoric Pacific. Careful examination of fracture types, mortuary practise, medical treatment, and the use of human bone for tool manufacture are necessary to fully evaluate a collection of human bone for tangible evidence of cannibalistic activity. A detailed analysis of four discrete assemblages of fragmentary human remains collected from the Ha’apai Islands in Tonga led to the identification of a human fibula fragment which had been modified and heavily used, likely as a sailing or thatching needle. This is one of only three tools of human bone recovered from in situ Lapita associated archaeological deposits in the region. The presence of human bone tools in Lapita aged deposits in Tonga and Fiji and mortuary evidence for the removal of long bones from the cemetery site of Teouma in Vanuatu, warrants further study of assemblages of fragmentary remains recovered across the Pacific to search for tools of human bone. It also suggests that cutmarks and patina observed on human remains within assemblages of scattered human remains may be interpreted as something other than cannibal refuse.
This is the talk I gave at the Royal Society in London for Ancient DNA the First Three Decades. T... more This is the talk I gave at the Royal Society in London for Ancient DNA the First Three Decades. The accompanying paper does not appear in the Three Decades Volume but has been split into two parts to be published elsewhere in the coming months. http://downloads.royalsociety.org/events/2013/ancient-dna/storey.mp3