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

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

  • Bodiba, Molebogeng Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria Pretoria 0001 South Africa
  • Steyn, Maryna Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria Pretoria 0001 South Africa School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
  • Bloomer, Paulette Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria 0001 South Africa
  • Mosothwane, Morongwa N. Archaeology Unit, History Department, University of Botswana Gaborone Botswana
  • Rühli, Frank Institute of Anatomy, Institut für Evolutionäre Medizin (IEM), University of Zurich Zurich 8057 Switzerland
  • Bouwman, Abigail Institute of Anatomy, Institut für Evolutionäre Medizin (IEM), University of Zurich Zurich 8057 Switzerland
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Published in:
  • Journal of African Archaeology. - Brill. - 2019, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 161-172
Archaeology
Archaeology
Cultural Studies
History
Visual Arts and Performing Arts
English 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.
Language
  • English
Open access status
closed
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/110419
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