Mitochondrial DNA Analysis and Pre-Hispanic Maya Migrations

Abstract

The Maya civilization developed in Mesoamerica persisted approximately 3,000 years and was one of the most advanced of its time. Mayas had the only known full writing system, as well as highly developed mathematical and astronomical systems. They also developed sophisticated architecture and arts. The Maya area of settlement ranged from the Yucatan Peninsula through Guatemala, Belize, and part of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, as well as parts of Honduras and El Salvador. The Maya civilization reached its peak of power and influence in the Preclassic period, from 2000 BCE to 250 CE. Despite the profound impact of the Mayan civilization on Mesoamerica and neighboring populations, studies of genetic variation of ancient Maya populations in pre-European times are scarce. Therefore, this work examines evidence in ancient DNA from archaeological sites in the states of Yucatan, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco. We report data analysis from sequences of the mtDNA hypervariable region I (HV1) from bone remains found in excavations of archaeological sites of the Maya region and their relationship with ancient and contemporary communities in this region, including Central and South America, as well as with Asia and Beringia. We discuss the results in the light of the influence of climate change in the area and relate them to evidence from language change. Gene flow within the Maya area occurred with a directional flow to South America in the Preclassic and Classic eras of the Mesoamerican chronology. This is supported by historical documentation, that has shown that the ancestors of the Maya civilization entered the Yucatan Peninsula after the first movement of people from Northern Asia into the Americas, with later migrations of the Maya ancestors to Mesoamerica, through Central America and the Caribbean, and toward the northern portions of South America.

Bioanthropological analysis of human remains from the archaic and classic period discovered in Puyil cave, Mexico

“…Despite a low n value, the frequency of each mtDNA haplogroup across all of the studied specimens from Puyil Cave are as follows: A: 55.55%, C: 33.33%, and D: 11.11%. This proportion is very similar to the haplogroup frequencies found across other ancient Maya populations (A: 3%, A2v: 13%, A2: 45%, C: 3%, C1: 16%, C1b: 14%-16%, and D: 5%) (Ochoa-Lugo et al, 2016, Muñoz-Moreno et al, 2021, but notably, different from the Maya from Xcaret, Mexico (A: 84%, B: 4%, and C: 8%) (González-Oliver et al, 2001) and contemporary Maya populations, like those from Quintana Roo (A2: 64.9%, B2: 16.2%, C1: 14.9%, and D1: 4.1%), Yucatan (A2: 65%, B2: 12.5%, B4b1: 2.5%, C1: 12.5, and D1: 7.5%), Campeche (A2: 70.3%, B2: 5.4%, C1: 18.9%, and D1: 5.4%), and Chiapas (Tzotzil), Mexico (A2: 41.4%, B2: 24.1%, C1: 25.3%, and D4h3a: 9.2%) (González-Martín et al, 2015) and Guatemala (Tzotzil) (A2: 75%, B2: 14%, and C1: 10%) (Söchtig et al, 2015).…”

“…The absence of mtDNA haplogroup B from the human remains of Puyil Cave may be explained by its late independent arrival to this geographic region (Lalueza‐Fox et al, 2003), when it subsequently mixed with populations carrying mtDNA haplogroups A and C (Ochoa‐Lugo & Muñoz, 2016). Alternatively, the absence of mitochondrial DNA haplogroup B may be due to the effects of genetic drift and/or selective pressure in small populations (Muñoz‐Moreno et al, 2021; Ochoa‐Lugo & Muñoz, 2016). The Asian mtDNA haplogroup, B1, is the most closely related haplogroup to the Indigenous American branch of haplogroup B2 and can be traced to the Altai‐Sayan region that forms the borderland between present‐day China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia (Starikovskaya et al, 2005).…”

“…The most common mitochondrial subclade identified in Mesoamerican populations from the Classic Period is A2 (De Saint Pierre et al, 2012;Kumar et al, 2011). In contrast, haplogroup A is scarce among Indigenous Americans (ancient or contemporary), though was previously identified in a pre-Hispanic individual from Comalcalco, Tabasco (Muñoz-Moreno et al, 2021;Ochoa-Lugo & Muñoz, 2016). (Lodder, 2008).…”

“…Early studies of mtDNA haplogroups in pre‐Hispanic Maya populations using restriction enzymes identified haplogroups A and C at relatively elevated frequencies, and haplogroups B and D at relatively lower frequencies (González‐Oliver et al, 2001). Recently, mtDNA haplogroups A, A2, A2v, C, C1, C1b14, and D were identified in pre‐Hispanic Maya individuals from Palenque, Chiapas, and Comalcalco and Sueños de Oro, Tabasco (Muñoz‐Moreno et al, 2021; Ochoa‐Lugo & Muñoz, 2016).…”