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Thank you for the link. > However, under favorable environmental conditions, for example when tissues are frozen or become desiccated quickly after death, thes

Thank you for the link. > However, under favorable environmental conditions, for example when tissues are frozen or become desiccated quickly after death, these processes become inhibited before the complete destruction of all DNA endogenous to the organism. Do you think there are 12 red squirrels in Winchester that were frozen or desiccated 600 years ago?

surfingdino 2y ago
While Brexit has not improved food quality in Britain, I'm sure some well-preserved dead squirrels remain in the area. Also, Winchester is not that far from the Isle of Wight, one of the red squirrel strongholds https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_red_squirrels https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_red_squirrels
- verisimi 2y ago
  I'm out and about all the time, walking, I go to various places, and yet hardly ever find any signs of dead animals. Most recently I have saw a dead dear (roadkill), and it has now decomposed pretty completely after 2 months. I don't see how 1 red squirrel dies 600 years ago, and we still have its remains today, nevermind 12 of them! All from Winchester!
  - surfingdino 2y ago
    Old churches, castles? Crypts, attics?
    - verisimi 2y ago
      It's unlikely, right? https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in_City_of_Winchester https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in... Here's a list of medieval buildings in Winchester. There are 30-40 buildings old enough. Hard to imagine red squirrels choosing to die in these places, not being eaten by other critters, and then remaining undiscovered by cleaners all this time, only to finally become historical DNA samples.
      - surfingdino 2y ago
        > Back then, squirrel fur was used as a fine lining for clothes and some people also had pet squirrels. They were particularly popular with women. from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj7mry8yvrmo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj7mry8yvrmo We are likely not talking about whole squirrels, but bits and pieces of them found on the burial sites.
        verisimi 2y ago
        I guess that proves it! :) /s Thanks for the exchange.

surfingdino 2y ago

While Brexit has not improved food quality in Britain, I'm sure some well-preserved dead squirrels remain in the area. Also, Winchester is not that far from the Isle of Wight, one of the red squirrel strongholds https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_red_squirrels https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_red_squirrels

verisimi 2y ago
I'm out and about all the time, walking, I go to various places, and yet hardly ever find any signs of dead animals. Most recently I have saw a dead dear (roadkill), and it has now decomposed pretty completely after 2 months. I don't see how 1 red squirrel dies 600 years ago, and we still have its remains today, nevermind 12 of them! All from Winchester!
- surfingdino 2y ago
  Old churches, castles? Crypts, attics?
  - verisimi 2y ago
    It's unlikely, right? https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in_City_of_Winchester https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in... Here's a list of medieval buildings in Winchester. There are 30-40 buildings old enough. Hard to imagine red squirrels choosing to die in these places, not being eaten by other critters, and then remaining undiscovered by cleaners all this time, only to finally become historical DNA samples.
    - surfingdino 2y ago
      > Back then, squirrel fur was used as a fine lining for clothes and some people also had pet squirrels. They were particularly popular with women. from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj7mry8yvrmo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj7mry8yvrmo We are likely not talking about whole squirrels, but bits and pieces of them found on the burial sites.
      - verisimi 2y ago
        I guess that proves it! :) /s Thanks for the exchange.