Skip to main content

Hodges Lab

Two ancient human genomes reveal Polynesian ancestry among the indigenous Botocudos of Brazil.

AUTHORS

Malaspinas ASAnna-Sapfo , Lao O Oscar , Schroeder H Hannes , Rasmussen M Morten , Raghavan M Maanasa , Moltke I Ida , Campos PF Paula F , Sagredo FS Francisca Santana , Rasmussen S Simon , Gonçalves VF Vanessa F , Albrechtsen A Anders , Allentoft ME Morten E , Johnson PL Philip L F , Li M Mingkun , Reis S Silvia , Bernardo DV Danilo V , DeGiorgio M Michael , Duggan AT Ana T , Bastos M Murilo , Wang Y Yong , Stenderup J Jesper , Moreno-Mayar JV J Victor , Brunak S Søren , Sicheritz-Ponten T Thomas , Hodges E Emily , Hannon GJ Gregory J , Orlando L Ludovic , Price TD T Douglas , Jensen JD Jeffrey D , Nielsen R Rasmus , Heinemeier J Jan , Olsen J Jesper , Rodrigues-Carvalho C Claudia , Lahr MM Marta Mirazón , Neves WA Walter A , Kayser M Manfred , Higham T Thomas , Stoneking M Mark , Pena SD Sergio D J , Willerslev E Eske . Current biology : CB. 2014 11 3; 24(21). R1035-7

ABSTRACT

Understanding the peopling of the Americas remains an important and challenging question. Here, we present (14)C dates, and morphological, isotopic and genomic sequence data from two human skulls from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, part of one of the indigenous groups known as ‘Botocudos’. We find that their genomic ancestry is Polynesian, with no detectable Native American component. Radiocarbon analysis of the skulls shows that the individuals had died prior to the beginning of the 19th century. Our findings could either represent genomic evidence of Polynesians reaching South America during their Pacific expansion, or European-mediated transport.