Genetic Diversity of a Late Prehispanic Group of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Northwestern Argentina

Abstract

SummaryThis palaeogenetic study focused on the analysis of a late prehispanic Argentinean group from the Humahuaca valley, with the main aim of reconstructing its (micro)evolutionary history. The Humahuaca valley, a natural passageway from the eastern plains to the highlands, was the living environment of Andean societies whose cultural but especially biological diversity is still poorly understood. We analyzed the DNA extracted from 39 individuals who populated this upper valley during the Regional Development period (RDP) (between the 11th and 15th centuries CE), to determine their maternal and paternal genetic ancestry. Some mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal haplotypes specific to the Andean region are consistent with an origin in the highlands of Central Andes. On the other hand, a significant genetic affinity with contemporary admixed communities of the Chaco area was detected. Expectedly, recent demographic events, such as the expansion of the Inca Empire or the European colonization, have changed the original mitochondrial gene pool of the ancient Humahuaca Valley community. Finally, we identified a particular geographical organization of the prehispanic populations of Northwestern Argentina. Our results suggest that the communities of the region were divided between two different spheres of interaction, which is consistent with assumptions made by means of craniometric traits.

Genetic Affiliation of Pre-Hispanic and Contemporary Mayas through Maternal Linage

“…mtDNA has been used to elucidate the maternal evolutionary history of anatomically modern humans through the reconstruction of prehistoric human dispersals (Forster et al 1996;Goebel et al 2008;Theyab et al 2012;Melton et al 2013;Mendisco et al 2014) and to study human genetic predispositions to various diseases (Chen et al 2015;Montiel-Sosa et al 2013;Scheibye-Knudsen et al 2013;Delgado-Sánchez et al 2007). These studies are possible because mtDNA is transmitted as a nonrecombining unit through maternal lineages, provides an exceptional record of mutations over time (Ingman et al 2000;Meyer et al 1999;Tamura 2000), and is present in numerous copies in each cell, and because databases of entire human mtDNA sequences are readily available for comparison (Falk et al 2015;Shokolenko and Alexeyev 2015).…”

Genetic analysis of paleo-colombians from Nemocón, Cundinamarca provides insights on the early peopling of northwestern South America

“…Network A2: Figure 3 (Vilar, et al 2014), and in ancient Argentina (Mendisco, et al 2014). This evidence shows that Hap.…”

Linajes Maternos en Muestras Antiguas De La Puna Jujeña. Comparacion Con Estudios De La Region Centro-Sur Andina

“…El de DC21 sólo fue hallado en una muestra de la Costa de Perú del Horizonte Temprano (EH) (Fehren-Schmitz et al, 2011). DC4 posee las mutaciones típicas del haplotipo A2 y el individuo DC6 las de C1 nodal (Tabla 3), ambos presentes en varias poblaciones de Sudamérica prehispánicas y actuales (Garcia-Bour et al, 2004;Kemp et al, 2009;Perego et al, 2010;Sala et al, 2010;Bodner et al, 2012;Baca et al, 2012;2014;Mendisco et al, 2014;Fehren-Schmitz et al, 2014). El DC14 mostró un linaje típico de la región andina presente en un individuo prehispánico de la Quebrada de Humahuaca sur y en varias poblaciones actuales (Álvarez-Iglesias et al, 2007;Barbieri et al, 2011;de Saint Pierre et al, 2012).…”

“…suplementaria 1) con el fin de establecer las posibles relaciones biológicas entre los linajes mitocondriales de las muestras poblacionales en estudio. Además, los linajes de dos individuos analizados por Mendisco et al, (2014) del sitio Doncellas fueron incorporados a la muestra de Puna jujeña analizada en este estudio para todas las pruebas estadísticas empleadas.…”

“…Los individuos restantes fueron asignados a los Hgs D1 (3), C1 (1) y B2 (1). En otro estudio Mendisco et al, (2014) analizaron muestras de sitios arqueológicos de Quebrada de Humahuaca, Valle Calchaquí y Puna correspondientes al período de Desarrollos Regionales. Sus resultados evidenciaron la presencia de los cuatro Hgs amerindios sudamericanos principales, sugiriendo además un origen de la población en los Andes Centrales pero con influencia genética desde poblaciones de la región de Gran Chaco.…”