On the trail of medieval wolves: ancient DNA, CT-based analyses and palaeopathology of a 1000-year-old wolf cranium from the Po Valley (northern Italy) ...

• Main Authors: Iurino, Dawid A., Cilli, Elisabetta, Caniglia, Romolo, Fabbri, Elena, Mecozzi, Beniamino, Ciucani, Marta Maria, Sardella, Raffaele, Persico, Davide
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2022
• Subjects: Evolutionary Biology; FOS Biological sciences; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Science Policy; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19747032.v1; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/On_the_trail_of_medieval_wolves_ancient_DNA_CT-based_analyses_and_palaeopathology_of_a_1000-year-old_wolf_cranium_from_the_Po_Valley_northern_Italy_/19747032/1

The Middle Ages represented a crucial period for the evolutionary history of wolves ( Canis lupus ), marked by both significant ecosystem changes, especially through the degradation of wooded landscapes and heavy persecution, that drove this species to a dramatic demographic decline. In Europe, informative and well-documented wolf remains from the Medieval Ages are exceptionally rare and are mostly represented by teeth and postcranial elements. In this study, we describe a well-preserved wolf cranium dated to ca. 967–1157 AD from the Po Valley (northern Italy). The specimen was analysed through a multidisciplinary approach including CT-based, ancient DNA, and palaeopathological analyses. Morphological and genetic data supported the assignment of this sample to Canis lupus species. CT-based analyses indicated a typical wolf-like morphology falling into the extant variability of the medium-sized subspecies C. lupus italicus , whereas palaeopathological analyses indicated a severe periodontitis. Phylogenetic ...