South-to-north migration preceded the advent of intensive farming in the Maya region
Kennett DJ, Lipson M, Prufer KM et al.
Publication Details
Comprehensive information about this research publication
Abstract
Summary of the research findings
The genetic prehistory of human populations in Central America is largely unexplored leaving an important gap in our knowledge of the global expansion of humans. We report genome-wide ancient DNA data for a transect of twenty individuals from two Belize rock-shelters dating between 9,600-3,700 calibrated radiocarbon years before present (cal. BP). The oldest individuals (9,600-7,300 cal. BP) descend from an Early Holocene Native American lineage with only distant relatedness to present-day Mesoamericans, including Mayan-speaking populations. After ~5,600 cal. BP a previously unknown human dispersal from the south made a major demographic impact on the region, contributing more than 50% of the ancestry of all later individuals. This new ancestry derived from a source related to present-day Chibchan speakers living from Costa Rica to Colombia. Its arrival corresponds to the first clear evidence for forest clearing and maize horticulture in what later became the Maya region.
Ancient DNA Samples
23 ancient DNA samples referenced in this publication
| Sample ID | Date/Era | Country | Locality | Sex | mtDNA | Y-DNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I7556 | 3761 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek (Toledo District, Maya Mountains, Bladen Nature Reserve) | M | |
|
| I13266 | 2561 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek (Toledo District, Maya Mountains, Bladen Nature Reserve) | F | A2ap |
|
| I24541 | 10100 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | U | |
|
| I24540 | 3708 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | F | C |
|
| I7543 | 2017 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | C1c4 |
|
| I8041 | 2204 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | A2+(64)+@16111 |
|
| I5455 | 2574 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | C5b |
|
| I6235 | 2837 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | A2+(64)+@16111 |
|
| I24542 | 2950 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | F | C1c |
|
| I6236 | 2621 BCE | Belize | Saki Tzul | F | C5b |
|
| I19950 | 2868 BCE | Belize | Saki Tzul | M | D4h3a |
|
| I19167 | 3011 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | R |
|
| I5454 | 3319 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | A2q |
|
| I7544 | 2894 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | F | C5b |
|
| I3442 | 3312 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | A2af1b |
|
| I19944 | 3011 BCE | Belize | Saki Tzul | M | |
|
| I19942 | 3091 BCE | Belize | Saki Tzul | F | C1c |
|
| I3442 | 3312 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | A2 |
|
| I13267 | 3630 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | F | C1c |
|
| I20428 | 5250 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | |
|
| I19170 | 7050 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | F | D4h3a5 |
|
| I19169 | 7031 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | D4h3a5 |
|
| I13268 | 7711 BCE | Belize | Mayahak Cab Pek | M | C1b |
|
Analysis
Comprehensive review of ancestry and genetic findings
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