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Martin Jones. 2002. The Molecule Hunt: Archaeology and the Search for Ancient DNA. Arcade Publishing, New York. 240 pages, references and an index. ISBN 1-55970-611-2.

Archaeology and DNA

This interesting book by Martin Jones explores the various ways in which archaeology is using DNA to discover a whole new universe of things unimaginable even 15 years ago. The book is written as a series of anecdotes of recent research.


Stories include how DNA is being used to figure out Otzi's astoundingly vegan diet; whether wheat or rice or corn was domesticated once or twice or several times; whether the Romanov family really were all murdered in 1917; what the kinship relationships were of the people buried for over a 1000 year period at Windover Bog; what the relationship was between Neandertal and Homo sapiens; and whether dogs were domesticated in the new or old worlds.

Chapter Breakdown

The book is broken into eleven chapters. The first is an introduction to DNA studies; the second a discussion of the difficulties involved in the search. The third chapter, "Our curious cousins" includes the Neanderthals and the Mitochondrial Eve. "Final traces of life" discusses burials and what happens to DNA in bodies left in various places. "Gaining control" is about the origins of agriculture and how it is being researched. "Ending the chase" is about dogs and cattle and other domesticated animals. "Great journeys" traces human migrations throughout the world.

"Beyond DNA" discusses the additional molecules that hold promise for archaeological information. "Friends and relations" discusses identifying the individual, including the Romanovs, Josef Mengele, and the Chinchorro mummies. "Enemies within" tracks the many diseases that plague us, from the black death to syphilis to tuberculosis; and the last chapter, "The hunt goes on" speculates on the future of DNA.

Bottom Line

Meant, primarily I think, for the general science public, the text is a little difficult at times; but there are wonderful snippets of information concerning the truly mind-boggling breakthroughs in DNA research today.

Update 2007: I first wrote this review in 2002, and today, five years later, The Molecule Hunt has found a secure place on my bookshelf where I can reach it for ready reference. I can't say that about very many of the texts I receive.