Ancient DNA from three individuals recovered at Caleta Huelen 12 offers a first genetic window into this coastal population. All conclusions must be framed as preliminary: sample count is very small (n = 3), so patterns may not reflect broader population structure. Within these samples, researchers observed one individual carrying Y-chromosome haplogroup Q, a lineage commonly associated with Native American paternal ancestry. Mitochondrial DNA results show two individuals with haplogroup B2 and one with A2—both of which are widespread maternal lineages across the Americas.
These genetic markers are consistent with continuity of Native American lineages on the southern Chilean coast during the late first millennium CE. The presence of Q, B2 and A2 accords with broader genetic landscapes documented in South America, but the small dataset prohibits strong claims about migration, admixture, or demographic change. For example, the single Q Y-haplogroup does not allow inference about paternal diversity, and the mtDNA distribution could reflect local family structure rather than population-wide frequencies.
Where genetics and archaeology meet, they create the most compelling narratives: DNA ties individuals to continental histories of peopling, while burial context and artifacts reveal lifeways. Future sampling from nearby coastal and inland sites will be crucial to test hypotheses about continuity, gene flow, and the social dynamics of the Caleta Huelen community.
