7,000-year-old scrap of goat leather from a Spanish burial cave contains DNA
Researchers studied a 7,000-year-old goat leather fragment from Cueva de los Murciélagos in southern Spain. The specimen offers valuable genetic information about ancient goats and their domestication. Analysis revealed the goat's DNA connected to modern breeds, indicating genetic continuity over millennia. Evidence suggests humans may have processed the leather, leaving traces of their DNA behind. This research improves understanding of livestock management in Early Neolithic communities.
