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mootspoints.bsky.social
Hannah Moots
@mootspoints.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.1K following 210 posts
Archaeology and Ancient DNA 🧬
Mobility in the Iron Age and Roman Mediterranean 🏺
Human-Environment Interactions 🌱
Researcher @cpgsthlm.bsky.social
https://mootspoints.blogspot.com/
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mootspoints.bsky.social
Hannah Moots @mootspoints.bsky.social · Nov 18
Excited to share that our cross-disciplinary conversation on ancient DNA and mobility is now published in Studies in Late Antiquity doi.org/10.1525/sla.... - and also out as an episode of the Byzantium & Friends podcast youtu.be/PdNeL6ika-k?... 🏺🧬
Human paleogenetics and late antique migration: a cross-discipline discussion
YouTube video by Medievalists
youtu.be
Reposted by Hannah Moots
traj-journal.bsky.social
#TRAJ Vol. 8 is complete!

Feat. 5 research articles, 13 book reviews & an incisive editorial from our @uclarchaeology.bsky.social guest editors Isabel Annal & Sian Therese.

👀 Women in Etruria
Roman Carmarthen in Wales
Analogies in Roman Frontier Arch

& more!

traj.openlibhums.org/issue/1682/i...
December 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
suziebirch.bsky.social
So proud of @trowelblazers.bsky.social! This week, the four of us received the TAG Award for Outstanding Contribution to Archaeological Theory for all TrowelBlazers has done over the past 12 years @lemoustier.bsky.social @toriherridge.bsky.social @brennawalks.bsky.social @tag2025york.bsky.social and
December 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
emma-harding.bsky.social
Happy to share our new paper on retroviruses in amphibians - a labour of love for our team @unswbabs.bsky.social with Prof. Peter White.

We explore 102 amphibian species to understand what type of retroviruses infect them and their evolution, highlights below 🧵

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Transcriptome mining reveals diversity and evolution of circulating and endogenous amphibian retroviruses - Retrovirology
Background The evolutionary history of retroviruses and their impact on vertebrate evolution remains poorly understood, particularly in non-mammalian hosts. In this study, we explore retroviruses asso...
link.springer.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
nanditagarud.bsky.social
Grateful to share our paper on gene-specific selective sweeps in human gut microbiomes, now out in Nature! It has been a joy to work with @rwolff.bsky.social, whose insights and hard work made this possible.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Gene-specific selective sweeps are pervasive across human gut microbiomes - Nature
Development and application of the integrated linkage disequilibrium score (iLDS) reveals both selective pressures impacting the human gut microbiome and the mechanisms by which gut bacteria adapt to ...
www.nature.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
matthewcollins.bsky.social
Experience in #archaeological #proteomics?
Interested in #Roman economy / organic artefacts?
Background in data analysis for #ZooMS?

Then apply for a 3-year RA post working to join PELLIS project with the wonderful @gtaylortu.bsky.social to investigate Roman leather economy

Apply by 12/01/2026
T: 01642 342201 E: HRrecruitment@tees.ac.uk
tuwpapps.tees.ac.uk
December 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
trowelblazers.bsky.social
We've been up in York for @tag2025york.bsky.social conference where 3 of us met, Brenna gave a talk on the challenge of creating an accidental archive, AND... we only went & won the Outstanding Achievement Award for Archaeological Theory In Action 🏆!
Huge gratitude to the entire community ❤️ 🏺
Two photos showing two women in each smiling at the camera, one of them is the same person. In one photo they are in front of a black curtain, in the sitting in a restaurant. Photo showing two of the women on stage, one is talking with a microphone. Photo courtesy of Speaking Archaeologically Instagram account. Caption says "Nothing more inspiringfor an organisation run majorly by women archaeologists in India to see TAG Award being awarded to @trowelblazers !". Photo showing woman with dark hair and glasses holding a ceramic vessel with strap-like handles, and smiling. The vase is white, pink, red and dark red in colour. Photo showing a lecture in progress with woman speaking on stage. The slide shows text, titled: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of an accidental archive" with boxes showing further information in a "good vs bad" format.
December 16, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
jkpritch.bsky.social
Our latest preprint revisits the classic model of mutation-selection balance.

Do human recessive genes fit Haldane's 100-year old model?

This work is by the wonderful @jonj-udd.bsky.social, and co-mentored by @jeffspence.github.io

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Allele Frequencies at Recessive Disease Genes are Mainly Determined by Pleiotropic Effects in Heterozygotes
The classic theory of mutation-selection balance predicts the equilibrium frequency of genetic variation under negative selection. The model predicts a simple relationship between the total frequency ...
www.biorxiv.org
December 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
trstngnthr.bsky.social
Oh, look! My friends around Magdalena Fraser & Federico Sanchez-Quinto et al have a new study analyzing more high-coverage Neolithic #aDNA genomes from the Baltic island of Gotland (including pathogens!!!) 👀 🧪 🏺

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Ancestry, admixture, and pathogens in contemporaneous Neolithic farmers and foragers on the Island of Gotland
Two archaeological cultural complexes coexisted on Gotland for over 500 years, between ~3300 and 2800 calBCE, i.e. the Neolithic Funnelbeaker culture (FBC), and the Pitted ware culture (PWC). The ance...
www.biorxiv.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
mootspoints.bsky.social
@archaeologymag.bsky.social has announced their to 10 research findings of 2025! Many congratulations to @compevohumang.bsky.social and all the researchers involved in these studies! archaeology.org/collection/t...
Features - Top 10 Discoveries of 2025 - Archaeology Magazine - January/February 2026
ARCHAEOLOGY magazine’s editors reveal the year’s most exciting finds
archaeology.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
pciarchaeology.bsky.social
1/3 New reco: Bédécarrats, Le Roy, Sayle, Blaizot, Couvrat, Gleize, @guillaume-leduc.bsky.social, Rottier & Goude (2025) Isobiography of the first farmers: effects of age-estimating referential and statistical models on reconstructing infant life. doi.org/10.5281/zeno... 🧪🏺🦣
Figure 2 from the manuscript: principle of the alignment of isotope sampling to the dental maturation referential in order to calculate the age at formation of each section and create the isobiography. The example uses the data obtained for the M2 of the individual 8, the Moorrees referential and a GAM model.
October 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
brownarchaeology.bsky.social
Join the DigDUG and the History DUG for their final event for the semester: Greek Vase Painting! Come by the Rhode Island Hall Common Room on Monday, December 8th, from 3:30-4:30 PM to decorate miniature pots in a historical style. Feel free to bring your friends for a fun de-stressing activity.
December 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
acstone.bsky.social
Lovely to work with @blevinske.bsky.social, @paleogenomics.bsky.social & Verena Schuenemann on " Ancient DNA insights into diverse pathogens and their hosts"! Read it at rdcu.be/eSVPN
Ancient DNA insights into diverse pathogens and their hosts
Nature Reviews Genetics - Ancient DNA techniques are being applied to study increasingly diverse pathogens of the past. The authors review the latest insights into pathogen–host coevolution,...
rdcu.be
December 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
kristenchapman.bsky.social
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
sbranco.bsky.social
Everything you always wanted to know about mushroom-forming fungi! Great collab with amazing mycologists. Thanks Laszlo Nagy for leading this effort!

www.nature.com/articles/s44...
The biodiversity, genomics, ecology and evolution of mushroom-forming fungi - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Mushroom-forming fungi have along evolutionary history and a suite of important ecological roles. This Review highlights advances in understanding of Agaricomycetes evolution and ecology driven by gen...
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
katiabou.bsky.social
Our paper in the PNAS Special Feature on 🐕 is out!
We demonstrated the accuracy of imputing ancient canid genomes, looked at inbreeding levels over the past 10,000 years and found genomic regions resistant to ROH which were enriched for immunity and chemosensory genes.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation of ancient canid genomes reveals inbreeding history over the past 10,000 years | PNAS
The multi-millennia-long history between dogs and humans has placed them at the forefront of archaeological and genomic research. Despite ongoing e...
www.pnas.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
cellpress.bsky.social
"The late arrival of domestic #cats in China via the Silk Road after 3,500 years of human-leopard cat commensalism" spkl.io/63320AdF6i

He Yu, @joel-alves.bsky.social, @gregerlarson.bsky.social, Shu-Jin Luo & colleagues
#CellGenomics
Leopard cats lived commensally with humans in ancient China for over 3,500 years before domestic cats were introduced via Silk Road merchants around 1,400 years ago. Ancient DNA shows that while two small felids once occupied anthropogenic environments, only domestic cats became fully domesticated and globally distributed.
November 27, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
unioxarchaeology.bsky.social
When did the #cat stop walking by itself & become one of our favourite companions? It's much later than you think! Lovely couple of 🐱🧬papers out this week to add to our #pet themed posts @gregerlarson.bsky.social @pku1898.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #aDNA #zooarchaeology #cats #miaow
Cats became our companions way later than you think
In true feline style, cats took their time in deciding when and where to join us on the sofa.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
palaeogenomics.bsky.social
LAST CALL ☎️

Abstract submission for #ICP2026 closes on November 30th❗

Don't miss the opportunity to showcase your exciting ancient DNA research next summer 🦴🦣🐕👨‍🔬🧬

Abstract submission and more info here 👉 icp2026.palaeogenomics.org

We are looking forward to welcoming you to beautiful Stockholm!
Aerial image of Riddarholmen, a small island part of Gamla Stan, the historical centre of Stockholm. ICP2026 flyer
November 28, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
flinklinus.bsky.social
We’re excited to offer a fully-funded PhD position (NERC & BBSRC-funded QUARTILES) focusing on oak conservation and restoration. The project features ancient DNA analysis of archeological oak specimens as a key element of the research. @uoa-archaeology.bsky.social #ancientDNA #conservation
QUARTILES DLA: Oak genetics through time: ancient DNA analysis of sub-fossil oak for woodland management and conservation at University of Aberdeen on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - QUARTILES DLA: Oak genetics through time: ancient DNA analysis of sub-fossil oak for woodland management and conservation at University of Aberdeen , listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
evanirvingpease.bsky.social
Delighted to see our paper characterising the inbreeding history of dogs and wolves over the past 10,000 years published this week in @pnas.org. Work led by the excellent @katiabou.bsky.social, and co-supervised by me, Laurent Frantz and Fernando Racimo www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(A) Genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH) of imputed and modern dogs plotted as a function of time, calculated based on ROH. Imputed samples are colored based on their geographic grouping, while modern samples are colored in gray. A loess regression was applied with each colored shaded area depicting the SE. (B) Total number of ROH segments plotted against total ROH length for the imputed dogs. Colors correspond to age of imputed samples in years before present (ybp)., while modern samples belonging to each dog group are colored in gray. (C) Map of imputed dog samples colored by their inbreeding coefficient (FROH). Samples with FROH values above 0.1 are indicated.
November 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
gingerhowley.bsky.social
Despite my insomnia, I'm very happy to share our preprint: a multi-disciplinary assessment of a sheep mass mortality event from ~18th century France. We report the first ancient sheeppox virus (think smallpox) and the Taenia hydatigena (nasty roundworm) genomes.
#aDNA
Evidence of sheeppox in 17th-19th century France: a multi-disciplinary investigation of a sheep mass mortality assemblage
Epizootic outbreaks posed major threats to food security, economic stability, and animal welfare in past communities. While these events and their impacts are well documented in historical records, ve...
www.biorxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
nativebio.bsky.social
Hello @science.org NativeBio has been on the forefront of this conversation from 2019 and even earlier (UW Indigenous grad school members Keolu Fox, Moroni Benally, Chad Uran, Marisa Duarte, Katrina Claw and many more). We've been on @scifri.bsky.social WAMU's 1A. We built the @d4itdr.bsky.social
joseph-yracheta.bsky.social Joe Yracheta (A ∩ & ∪ Ω) @joseph-yracheta.bsky.social · Nov 25
Please Repost! We are in an era of huge gains in technology, discovery and data "sequestration". We need to be honest about what's happening and the terrible outcomes that could happen if we continue the 533 years of colonial extraction. www.science.org/content/arti...
How scientists are confronting the lingering imprint of colonialism
Science series to spotlight efforts to reduce parachute science, empower Global South countries
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
anders-bergstrom.bsky.social
Human prehistory keeps delivering surprises, here in the shape of wolves. A very fun project to work on 👇
pontus-skoglund.bsky.social Pontus Skoglund @pontus-skoglund.bsky.social · Nov 24
🐺 Wolves in dog's clothing 🐺

Our latest in @pnas.org uncovers a surprise three to five thousand years ago: 2 canids in human contexts on a tiny island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, that ate marine food—but had 100% gray wolf ancestry.

Where they tame wolves, or even an incipient domestication?
November 25, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
undeaddandy.bsky.social
Our paper is out! Although wolves and dogs can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, hybridization between the two is rare. We found that most dogs today have low but detectable levels of post-domestication wolf ancestry that has shaped their evolution in human environments. tinyurl.com/yt4x4r7n
A legacy of genetic entanglement with wolves shapes modern dogs | PNAS
Dogs evolved through interactions between people and gray wolves during the Late Pleistocene and have been ubiquitous in human societies ever since...
www.pnas.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Reposted by Hannah Moots
lovedalen.bsky.social
During the earliest stages of domestication, dogs in archaeological sites would be indistinguishable from wolves.

Unless you find them on a small island where no wolves would survive on their own, eating things wolves normally don’t eat.

Such as here:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM