Ancient DNA Analysis of the Thulamela Remains: Deciphering the Migratory Patterns of a Southern African Population

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-172
Author(s):  
Molebogeng Bodiba ◽  
Maryna Steyn ◽  
Paulette Bloomer ◽  
Morongwa N. Mosothwane ◽  
Frank Rühli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
African Populations ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Migratory Patterns ◽  
African Iron Age ◽  
Adna Analysis

Abstract Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis was employed to obtain information on the population relationships of the two Thulamela individuals (AD 1400-1700) and six other skeletons from various archaeological sites of the southern African Iron Age – Tuli (Botswana), Nwanetsi, Makgope, Happy Rest and Stayt. Although sequences were short, it seems that the Thulamela female aligns somewhat more with eastern populations as opposed to the male who aligns more with western groups. This result is not surprising given that the two individuals were buried at the same site but their burials were hundreds of years apart. It was also possible to identify genetic links between the Iron Age individuals and modern southern African populations (e.g. some of the skeletons assessed showed maternal genetic similarities to present-day Sotho/Tswana groups) and to separate the samples into at least two genetic groups. Poor quality and quantity of DNA meant that only haplogroups, not subhaplogroups, of the individuals could be traced.

scholarly journals Combining Ancient DNA and Radiocarbon Dating Data to Increase Chronological Precision

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob W. Sedig ◽  
Iñigo Olade ◽  
Nick Patterson ◽  
David Reich
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Radiocarbon Date ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Related Individuals ◽  
Adna Analysis

AbstractThis paper examines how ancient DNA data can enhance radiocarbon dating. Because there is a limit to the number of years that can separate the dates of death of related individuals, the ability to identify first-, second-, and third-degree relatives through aDNA analysis can serve as a constraint on radiocarbon date range estimates. To determine the number of years that can separate related individuals, we modeled maximums derived from biological extremes of human reproduction and death ages and compiled data from historic and genealogical death records. We used these estimates to evaluate the date ranges of a global dataset of individuals that have been radiocarbon dated and for which ancient DNA analysis identified at least one relative. We found that many of these individuals could have their date ranges reduced by building in date of death separation constraints. We examined possible reasons for date discrepancies of related individuals, such as dating of different skeletal elements or wiggles in the radiocarbon curve. Our research demonstrates that when combined, radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis can provide a refined and richer view of the past.

SLAG IDENTIFICATION AT SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Miller ◽  
David Killick
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Analysis ◽  
Microscopic Study ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Copper Smelting ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Materials Analysis ◽  
Iron Smelting ◽  
Biomass Materials ◽  
African Iron Age

nents of southern African Iron Age sites. Their correct identification is crucial to understanding technological processes performed at these sites. This paper presents criteria for distinguishing between iron smelting slags, iron forging slags, copper smelting slags, crucible slags resulting from melting activities, vitrified clay and various biomass materials. Slag identification should entail a combination of morphology, microscopic study, chemical analysis, and assessment of the archaeological context. It is a necessarily specialist activity and superficial classification without materials analysis can be misleading. Archaeologists need to be mindful of both the archaeological opportunities and the potential technical difficulties in the interpretation of slags.

scholarly journals Early history of European domestic cattle as revealed by ancient DNA

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bollongino ◽  
C.J Edwards ◽  
K.W Alt ◽  
J Burger ◽  
D.G Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
North Central ◽  
Haplotype Variation ◽  
Variation Patterns ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Neolithic Expansion

We present an extensive ancient DNA analysis of mainly Neolithic cattle bones sampled from archaeological sites along the route of Neolithic expansion, from Turkey to North-Central Europe and Britain. We place this first reasonable population sample of Neolithic cattle mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in context to illustrate the continuity of haplotype variation patterns from the first European domestic cattle to the present. Interestingly, the dominant Central European pattern, a starburst phylogeny around the modal sequence, T3, has a Neolithic origin, and the reduced diversity within this cluster in the ancient samples accords with their shorter history of post-domestic accumulation of mutation.

scholarly journals Genetic evidence suggests relationship between contemporary Bulgarian population and Iron Age steppe dwellers from Pontic-Caspian steppe

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Stamov ◽  
Todor Chobanov
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Caucasian Population ◽  
Population Genetic Analysis ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
European Neolithic ◽  
Bulgarian Population ◽  
European Populations

AbstractAncient DNA analysis on the ancestry of European populations conducted in the last decade came to the puzzling conclusion that while all contemporary European populations can be best represented as an admixture of 3 ancestral populations –Early European Neolithic farmers (ENF), Western Hunter-Gatherers (WHG) and Ancestral North Eurasians (ANE), contemporary Bulgarians and few other SEE populations can also be represented as an admixture of two groups only – Early European Neolithic farmers and contemporary Caucasian people equally well.If modeled as an admixture of two groups only, the ANE component presented in contemporary Bulgarians would have arrived on the Balkans with hypothetical ANE (Ancestral North Eurasians)-rich Caucasian population.In this paper, we test the hypothesis that increased Caucasian component in contemporary SE Europeans, has been introduced on the Balkans by migrating Iron Age steppe dwellers from Pontic-Caspian steppe. We analyze available DNA datasets from both ancient and contemporary samples and identify a Caucasian signal, carried to Balkan populations by the nomadic dwellers of Early Medieval Saltovo-Mayaki Culture, located on the northern slope of Caucasus Mountains and adjacent steppe regions. We also identify two additional sources of Caucasian admixture in SEE populations, which are not specific to Bulgarian population only. Based on the results from our population genetic analysis we suggest that contemporary Bulgarians are an admixture of ancestral Slavonic groups, rich on locally absorbed EEF DNA and Proto Bulgarians, rich on Caucasian DNA and genetically related to the bearers of the Saltovo-Mayaki Culture from 8-10 century AD.

scholarly journals COMBINING ANCIENT DNA AND RADIOCARBON DATING DATA TO INCREASE CHRONOLOGICAL PRECISION

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Sedig ◽  
Iñigo Olalde ◽  
Nick Patterson ◽  
David Reich
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Radiocarbon Date ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Related Individuals ◽  
Adna Analysis

This paper examines how ancient DNA data can enhance radiocarbon dating. Because there is a limit to the number of years that can separate the dates of death of related individuals, the ability to identify first-, second-, and third-degree relatives through aDNA analysis can serve as a constraint on radiocarbon date range estimates. To determine the number of years that can separate related individuals, we modeled maximums derived from biological extremes of human reproduction and death ages and compiled data from historic and genealogical death records. We used these estimates to evaluate the date ranges of a global dataset of individuals that have been radiocarbon dated and for which ancient DNA analysis identified at least one relative. We found that many of these individuals could have their date ranges reduced by building in date of death separation constraints. We examined possible reasons for date discrepancies of related individuals, such as dating of different skeletal elements or wiggles in the radiocarbon curve. Our research demonstrates that when combined, radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis can provide a refined and richer view of the past.

Pollution Concepts and Marriage for the Southern African Iron Age

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Whitelaw
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Cousin Marriage ◽  
African Iron Age

This article draws on the ethnography of South African Bantu speakers to model an archaeologically useful relationship between pollution beliefs and marriage. Typically, pollution beliefs intensify with more complex marital alliances, first with the increasing significance of relations between wives and their cattle-linked siblings, and then with a shift towards a preference for cousin marriage. The article applies the model to the Early Iron Age (ad 650–1050) record and concludes that Early Iron Age agriculturists practised non-kin marriage, but that a high bridewealth, and possibly hypogamous marriage, generated considerable structural tension in Early Iron Age society.

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