Thanks to advances in extraction techniques, as well as computational tools, the field of ancient DNA has exploded. We’ve also figured out where to look for the best preserved ancient DNA: sites with low moisture levels, low light levels, and that have been very stable over long stretches of time - think caves, permafrost, and deep sediment layers. These advances have allowed us to find and sequence older and older DNA. In 2013, for example, researchers set a record by sequencing the genome of a