The Microbial memory of Tel Gezer

This study examines the microbial communities in soils from an archeological excavation on a Tel to identify evidence of previous human occupation and activity. Tels are artificial hills built up as settlements over hundreds of years on the ruins of earlier settlements.Soil samples were taken from Tel Gezer in Israel. Samples were from three periods of occupation ranging from 800-1200 B.C. Samples were from old fireplaces (n-3) and floors (n-14) as well as control samples from between periods of occupation (n-4). DNA was extracted and amplified with primers specific to prokaryote 16S and fungal ITS regions of the ribosome. Amplicons were sequenced by next generation sequencing.