Scientists recover ancient human DNA from cave walls for the first time

Researchers from Spain, Portugal and the Max Planck Institute extracted ancient human DNA from walls in 11 caves. Of 54 samples, only five yielded authentic mitochondrial DNA, including unpainted surfaces originally taken as negative controls.

• Ancient human DNA survived on cave walls for thousands of years
• Only 5 of 54 samples yielded authentic ancient DNA
• Three samples were mostly female DNA, one mostly male
• DNA from Covarón Cave matched Western hunter-gatherers