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Keep in mind that this is survivorship bias. The vast majority of DNA from this period has lots. Sure, there is tons that exists but we haven't found but withou

Keep in mind that this is survivorship bias. The vast majority of DNA from this period has lots. Sure, there is tons that exists but we haven't found but without a doubt almost all of it has been lost. This is DNA that happened to be the right conditions to survive. It isn't so much that the medium is resilient but that if stored in the correct conditions it can survive.

deleted 2y ago
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Terr_ 2y ago
It makes me think about how many ancient ruins don't exist simply because the people nearby didn't see reason not to reuse all that convenient unowned pre-quarried rock. Even today, it's not a very compelling plea: "No, don't tear down the recently-abandoned building, it would look cool several hundred years after you die." So too on the microscopic label, if there are convenient molecules nobody else is using...
- wlesieutre 2y ago
  "Spolia" is a fun architectural term for this sort of material reuse, particularly with the more interesting decorative pieces. Many of those stones taken from ancient buildings have become notable newer ancient buildings in their own right. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spolia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spolia
- teruakohatu 2y ago
  > It makes me think about how many ancient ruins don't exist simply because the people nearby didn't see reason not to reuse all that convenient unowned pre-quarried rock. In the case of Ostia near Rome, they mined it for building material until it became a malaria swamp. It wasn't drained until the 20th century. Around 20% of the workers draining the swap contracted malaria.