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The story told by human and baboon lice

Fig.1. Nubians as tribute bring a giraffe, on whose neck a monkey climbs, the Tomb of Rekhmira, Sheikh Abd el-Qurna; XVIII dynasty (1550-1070 BC).

Research on mammalian hair and new technologies lead to surprising results. For example, what hits the town with lice the question when he uses clothes, or what we can say of baboons on the mythical land of Punt?

A survey by the group of Andrew Kitchen, University of Pennsylvania ruled that the last common ancestor of the scalp of head lice (Pediculus humanus humanus ) and body (Pediculus humanus corporis ) dates back to 190,000 years ago.
While the former is at ease in the areas covered by natural human hair, the second variety can live tissue composed of animal fibers - garments worn by men. According to Kitchen this difference sheds light on the use by man of clothes. The two subspecies of lice were differentiated with the advent of the two different habitats, that is, when man began to cover her naked body with clothing.

In a second study through analysis done on hairs of mummified baboons (genus Papio ), University of California researchers hope to clarify an ancient archaeological mystery: Where was the legendary land of Punt, which the Pharaohs of Egypt procured their wealth in gold?
The extension of the kingdom is not clear, possible areas include modern states of Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea or Somalia. From papyrus and merchant listings which have been preserved until we know that Egypt imported from Punt gold and silver, but also luxury goods from exotic animals.
The two specimens which are now being investigated date back to 3,000 years ago, but were probably not native to the Nile valley, but were in fact brought about by sea travel to Egypt as a royal gift or tribute to Punt.
The research will seek to determine the isotopic composition of hair (especially oxygen) baboon, this varies with the food is mostly water with the animal receives. Given that in turn depends on the composition of local geological factors, if you can determine the composition of the water drunk by the baboons you can compare the data with data from water of different geological regions of Africa, and perhaps to clarify where the animals lived in the beginning.