BLOOD RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FROM THREE SITES IN SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Recent studies have demonstrated that lithic and ceramic
artifacts often retain traces of organic residue resulting
from their original use (Briuer 1976; Broderick 1979; Downs
1985; Fredericksen 1988; Hyland et al.a 1990; Newman 1990;
Newman and Julig 1989; Shafer and Holloway 1979)- Through
the use of immunological and biochemical techniques the
species of origin can be identified to at least the family
level. This information can be used in the reconstruction
of prehistoric subsistence patterns, man-land relationships
and possibly in identifying artifacts used for specific
tasks.
Immunological tests have been used for many years for
the characterization of bloodstains in medico-legal worko
Since the introduction of the precipitin test for the
medico-legal identification of bloodstains at the turn of
the century (Culliford 1964? Gaensslen 1983)9 several new
techniques have been introduced. However„ the basis of all
subsequent tests is the antigen-antibody reaction first
observed in the classic precipitin test (Gaensslen
1983:53). The sensitivity and specificity of precipitin
reactions makes them an extremely effective method for the
detection of trace amounts of protein (Kabat and Meyer
1967:22).

近年研究证实，石质制品（lithic artifacts）与陶瓷制品（ceramic artifacts）常会留存其原始使用过程中形成的有机残留物（Briuer 1976; Broderick 1979; Downs 1985; Fredericksen 1988; Hyland et al. 1990; Newman 1990; Newman and Julig 1989; Shafer and Holloway 1979）。借助免疫与生物化学技术，可将残留物的来源物种鉴定至至少科级分类阶元。该类信息可用于复原史前生计模式、人地关系，亦可辅助识别用于特定任务的出土制品。

免疫检测技术在法医学领域的血迹特征鉴定工作中已有数十年应用历史。自世纪之交沉淀素试验（precipitin test）被引入用于法医学血迹鉴定以来（Culliford 1964; Gaensslen 1983），诸多新型检测技术相继问世。但所有后续检测方法的核心均为经典沉淀素试验中首次观测到的抗原抗体反应（Gaensslen 1983:53）。沉淀素反应具备优异的灵敏度与特异性，使其成为检测微量蛋白质的高效手段（Kabat and Meyer 1967:22）。