Application of molecular biology methods to identify species of animal bones excavated from archaeological sites: focusing on the case of Bonghwang-dong, Gimhae

People have lived with and used animals for various purposes since the Paleolithic age. Therefore, animal bone research is interesting because it can infer the status of use, determine species, and ascertain the uses of animals that lived at the time. An analysis of ancient DNA was attempted to identify the species of ancient animal bones excavated from an archaeological site. Twelve animal bones from the Geumgwan Gaya period, excavated in Bonghwang-dong, Gimhae, were used in this study. After extracting DNA from the sample, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gene amplification was performed. Species-specific primers of livestock groups such as pig, cattle, and deer were selected and used. This livestock group was a major source of protein for people who lived on the Korean Peninsula at that time. As a result, 11 sample species were identified. This study is contributes to the restoration of past life information by applying biological technologies to archaeological sites. It is also expected that such analyses of biological remains will ultimately be used to restore historical and cultural information.