Ancient hunters and gatherers: Genetic secret of the Altiplano revealed!

Ancient hunters and gatherers: Genetic secret of the Altiplano revealed!

An international research team from the University of Tübingen, the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia has published groundbreaking findings on the genetic history of Colombia. In a study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists discovered a previously unknown early population of hunter-gatherers in the Altiplano, the plateau surrounding Bogotá, dated to 6,000 years ago.

Analysis of 21 individuals from five archaeological sites revealed that this population completely disappeared no later than 2,000 years ago. A complete change in population was probably caused by a migration from Central America, which brought with it technologies such as ceramics and the Chibcha languages. The oldest individuals were discovered in Checua, north of Bogotá, where they lived at altitudes of around 3,000 meters.

Genetic diversity and advances in research

The genetic material samples from this early population are no longer detectable in the 2,000-year-old individuals, supporting the theory of a complete cultural and genetic change. The scientists emphasize that it is unusual for genetic traces of an original population to disappear completely in South America, as has not previously been observed in the Andes and Southern Cone region.

In addition to the recent discoveries in Colombia, a new study by scientists from the... Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the University of Zurich are involved in the genetic roots of 26 population groups in western South America and Mexico. The results of this research confirm the influence of numerous complex cultures and reveal unknown migrations and connections, providing deeper insight into the continent's population history.

Research also shows that genetic exchange between widely separated populations has been occurring for more than 4,000 years, making it easier to understand migration movements and the resulting population structures over the centuries. Such accurate genetic analyzes are crucial to understanding the many events that occurred in the pre-colonial and post-European periods.

Cultural and social implications

The integration of genealogical research with archaeological and paleoclimatic data has identified important migration routes and intensive contact between populations along the Andes and the Amazon region. These findings support the notion that there were significant connections between Quechua and Cocama speakers through migration.

Colombia's migration history is not only an academic topic, but also a context for current social reality. Since the discovery of South America in the 15th century, the continent has experienced numerous waves of immigration, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, triggered by economic hardship and political instability. The Migration report highlights that European immigrants, particularly from Italy and Spain, form significant proportions of the population in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Today, the challenges surrounding migration and integration are particularly pressing. The Venezuelan crisis has caused millions of people to flee to neighboring countries in search of a better life. These complex migration movements make it clear that the genetic and cultural diversity of South America is not just a thing of the past, but continues to shape the social structures and face of the continent.