Ancient mitochondrial genomes from the Argentinian Pampas inform the early peopling of the Southern Cone of South America

Abstract

Summary The Southern Cone of South America (SCSA) is a key region for investigations about the peopling of the Americas. However, little is known about the eastern sector, the Argentinian Pampas. We analyzed 18 mitochondrial genomes—7 of which are novel—from human skeletal remains from 3 Early to Late Holocene archaeological sites. The Pampas present a distinctive genetic makeup compared to other Middle to Late Holocene pre-Columbian SCSA populations. We also report the earliest individuals carrying SCSA-specific mitochondrial haplogroups D1j and D1g from Early and Middle Holocene, respectively. Using these deep calibration time points in Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions, we suggest that the first settlers of the Pampas were part of a single and rapid dispersal ∼15,600 years ago. Finally, we propose that present-day genetic differences between the Pampas and the rest of the SCSA are due to founder effects, genetic drift, and a partial population replacement ∼9,000 years ago.

Ancient DNA analysis reveals temporal and geographical patterns of mitochondrial diversity in pre‐Hispanic populations from Central Argentina

“…D1g5 is mainly distributed in populations from Patagonia, both modern (de Saint Pierre et al, 2012; Gómez‐Carballa et al, 2016), and ancient (Arencibia et al, 2019; Crespo et al, 2017, 2020; Motti et al, 2019; Parolin et al, 2019). It was also found in modern populations of Western Argentina (García et al, 2018; Motti, 2012), Central Chile (Gómez‐Carballa et al, 2016), and in ancient samples from the Puna in Northwestern Argentina (Postillone et al, 2017) and from the Pampas region (Roca‐Rada et al, 2021).…”

“…Three ancient individuals from Plains belonged to D1j lineage (D1 +16242–16311 , H6), and one of them exhibited an additional mutation at np 16093 (not displayed on the D1 network since it falls outside the selected range). D1j is very frequent in Central and Western Argentina (Bodner et al, 2012; García et al, 2012, 2018, 2021; Motti, 2012; Pauro, 2015) and was present in ancient samples from Santiago del Estero (Tavella et al, 2020), Patagonia (Crespo et al, 2017), Paraná Delta (Nores et al, 2019), the eastern Pampa‐Patagonia transition (Postillone et al, 2020), and the Pampas region (Roca‐Rada et al, 2021). Finally, one individual had the D1 nodal motif plus T16189C (H15), an haplotype only detected before in the current population of Córdoba city (Salas et al, 2008) and in Gran Chaco (Sevini et al, 2014).…”

“…Inferred missing haplotypes are presented as black dots. Areas of circles are proportional to haplotype frequencies (Crespo et al, 2017), Paran a Delta (Nores et al, 2019), the eastern Pampa-Patagonia transition (Postillone et al, 2020), and the Pampas region (Roca-Rada et al, 2021). Finally, one individual had the D1 nodal motif plus T16189C (H15), an haplotype only detected before in the current population of C ordoba city (Salas et al, 2008) and in Gran Chaco (Sevini et al, 2014).…”

“…There is a growing body of research on the genetic profile of ancient American populations, which provides a temporal context for the study of the peopling of the continent (de la Fuente et al, 2015; Lindo et al, 2018; Llamas et al, 2016; Moraga et al, 2010; Moreno‐Mayar et al, 2018; Nakatsuka, Lazaridis, et al, 2020; Posth et al, 2018). Besides, several aDNA studies of pre‐Hispanic populations from Argentina have been published, covering most of the territory (Arencibia et al, 2019; Carnese et al, 2010; Crespo et al, 2016, 2018, 2020; García et al, 2021; Mendisco et al, 2014; Motti et al, 2015; Nakatsuka, Luisi, et al, 2020; Nores & Demarchi, 2011; Nores et al, 2011, 2017; Parolin et al, 2020; Postillone et al, 2017, 2020; Roca‐Rada et al, 2021; Russo, Dejean, et al, 2018; Russo et al, 2017; Russo, Mendisco, et al, 2018; Tavella et al, 2020).…”

Identifikation – Von der Speziesbestimmung bis zur Identitätsfeststellung mit Hilfe von ancient DNA-Analysen

“…Mittlerweile sind zahlreiche Untersuchungen (prä)historischer Populationen durchgeführt worden, welche es viel genauer vermögen, die historischen Besiedlungsereignisse darzustellen. Als Beispiele seien hier das neolithische Europa(Brandt et al 2013, Brotherton et al 2013, Haak et al 2010) und das präkolumbische Südamerika genannt(Fehren-Schmitz et al 2010, Llamas et al 2016, Roca-Rada et al 2021.Neben dem individuellenIdentifikationspotential kann die mitochondriale DNA also auch genutzt werden, um Individuen einer (mütterlichen) Herkunftspopulation bzw. -region zuzuordnen.…”