Data from: Ancient DNA reveals the Arctic origin of Viking Age cod from Haithabu, Germany

Knowledge of the range and chronology of historic trade and long-distance transport of natural resources is essential for determining the impacts of past human activities on marine environments. However, the specific biological sources of imported fauna are often difficult to identify, in particular if species have a wide spatial distribution and lack clear osteological or isotopic differentiation between populations. Here, we report that ancient fish-bone remains, despite being porous, brittle, and light, provide an excellent source of endogenous DNA (15–46%) of sufficient quality for whole-genome reconstruction. By comparing ancient sequence data to that of modern specimens, we determine the biological origin of 15 Viking Age (800–1066 CE) and subsequent medieval (1066–1280 CE) Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) specimens from excavation sites in Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Archaeological context indicates that one of these sites was a fishing settlement for the procurement of local catches, whereas the other localities were centers of trade. Fish from the trade sites show a mixed ancestry and are statistically differentiated from local fish populations. Moreover, Viking Age samples from Haithabu, Germany, are traced back to the North East Arctic Atlantic cod population that has supported the Lofoten fisheries of Norway for centuries. Our results resolve a long-standing controversial hypothesis and indicate that the marine resources of the North Atlantic Ocean were used to sustain an international demand for protein as far back as the Viking Age.厘清历史上自然资源贸易与长途运输的范围及时间序列，对于解析过往人类活动对海洋环境的影响至关重要。然而，外来动物群的具体生物来源往往难以甄别，尤其当物种分布范围广泛、种群间缺乏明确的骨骼学或同位素特征分化时。在此我们证实：尽管古代鱼骨遗存多孔、质脆且质地轻盈，但其所含内源DNA（endogenous DNA）的占比可达15%~46%，且质量足以支撑全基因组重建，是极佳的研究材料。通过将古代序列数据与现代样本进行比对，我们明确了德国、挪威与英国考古遗址出土的15件维京时代（公元800–1066年）及后续中世纪（公元1066–1280年）大西洋鳕（Gadus morhua）标本的生物起源。考古背景信息显示，其中一处遗址为捕捞本地渔获的渔村，其余遗址则为贸易中心。贸易中心遗址出土的鳕鱼呈现混合祖源特征，且经统计学分析与本地鱼群存在显著分化。此外，德国海泽比（Haithabu）出土的维京时代鳕鱼标本，可溯源至东北北极大西洋鳕种群——该种群数百年来支撑着挪威罗弗敦渔场的捕捞作业。本研究结果解决了一项长期存在的争议性假说，证实早在维京时代，北大西洋的海洋资源便已用于满足国际市场的蛋白质需求。