An Archaeology of Microbes

Abstract

Humans have a deep and complex relationship with microbes. Beyond disease, microbes also profoundly shape human health and behavior through their activity in the microbiome and their diverse roles in food and cuisine. And yet we know very little about the origin, evolution, or ecology of the trillions of microorganisms that call us home. Recent advances in genomic and proteomic technologies are opening up dramatic new opportunities in the field of microbial archaeology, enabling us to investigate the complex and diverse microbial communities that have long inhabited our human bodies and our food systems—both in sickness and in health. From epidemic disease to alcoholic beverages, microbes are the invisible and often overlooked figures that have profoundly shaped human culture and influenced the course of human history. Emerging research on microbes is impacting how we investigate the human past and changing how we understand human and microbial cultures today. Here the developing field of microbial archaeology is discussed, including its current practice and future outlook.