Written in bone

Genetic data from ancient Europeans are rewriting the prehistory of the continent

KEEPING CLEAN  When studying ancient specimens, researchers work in ultraclean rooms to avoid contaminating samples with DNA from modern people or the environment.

T. Hartmann/Paleogenetics Laboratory, Mainz, Germany

Carles Lalueza-Fox nearly missed an opportunity to paint the genetic portrait of a 7,000-year-old Spaniard.