Mysterious civilization from 6,000 years ago appears in Colombia and its DNA does not match with anyone
Scientists have uncovered ancient remains in Colombia with unknown DNA, raising new questions about the origins of early American civilizations.
A perplexing archaeological discovery in Colombia has left scientists stunned: human remains with genetic markers unlike any other known population have been unearthed in the Bogotá Altiplano, a high plateau in central Colombia.
21 skeletons have unique DNA
The remains belong to 21 individuals who lived in the region between 6,000 and 500 years ago. The area has long been associated with both northern and southern Native American lineages, but this newly uncovered group doesn’t match either.
The findings, published in the Science Advances journal, reveal a previously unidentified genetic lineage. “We did not expect to find a lineage that had not been reported in other populations,” said lead researcher Andrea Casas Vargas of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in an interview with CNN.
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Ancient Skeletons in Bogotá Altiplano Reveal Unknown Human Lineage
A groundbreaking
archaeological discovery in Colombia’s Bogotá Altiplano has unearthed 6,000-year-old skeletons with DNA that… pic.twitter.com/KfDs48jfny
Why did this genetic lineage disappear? Further studies planned
The mystery now deepens: who were these people and what happened to them?
“We are not certain what caused their disappearance - whether it was environmental change or if they were replaced by other groups,” Casas Vargas added.
Plans for further research are already underway. Scientists intend to examine other ancient remains across Colombia, which will analyzed at genetic level and compared with this first discovery,
Colombia’s key role in understanding history of the Americas
Colombia’s geographic position at the gateway to South America, facilitating the entry of people from North and Central America, could make it a critical piece of the puzzle in shedding light on the continent’s early human history, of which relatively little is known.
According to Christina Warinner, a professor of scientific archaeology at Harvard University, “Colombia is key to understanding the peopling of South America and the development of complex societies in both North and South America. This study highlights the deep history of population migration and mixing in the formation today’s populations."
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