DNA barcoding analysis of fish bones from a shipwreck found at Dor, Israel

The Tantura F shipwreck, found in Dor lagoon, was dated to the Early Islamic period of Israel (8^th century). Ovoid amphorae found in the shipwreck contained fish bones that were morphologically assigned to the genus Tilapia. A mini-barcode sequence of a 140-bp fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene was analyzed for DNA-based taxonomy of the ancient fish. A single transition m. 5573 G>A of Oreochromis aureus and Sarotherodon galilaeus further identified the ancient fish as tilapia. This nucleotide transition suggests that the ancient fish belonged to an extinct species or sub-species closely related to contemporary O. aureus or S. galilaeus. Within the archeological and historical context, the DNA-based identification of the ancient fish as tilapia may aid in understanding the fish industry and trade in the region during the Islamic period.