Pre-Columbian chickens, dates, isotopes, and mtDNA

Storey, Alice A.; Quiroz, Daniel; Ramírez, José Miguel; Beavan, Nancy; Addison, David J.; Walter, Richard; Hunt, Terry L.; Athens, J. Stephen; Huynen, Leon; Matisoo-Smith, Elizabeth

doi:10.1073/pnas.0807625105

Cited by 37 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In another line of evidence for pre-Columbian contact, chicken remains with a Polynesian genetic signature from the archaeological site of El Arenal, in Chile, have been radiocarbon dated to pre-Columbian times [23]. However, these results remain controversial due to potential contamination and a possible reservoir effect in radiocarbon dating [24][25][26][27]. Cultural similarities have also been noted, including similarities in fishing gear and watercraft used by Polynesians and coastal Native Americans ( [28], pp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Genome-wide Ancestry Patterns in Rapanui Suggest Pre-European Admixture with Native Americans

et al. 2014

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Genome-wide Ancestry Patterns in Rapanui Suggest Pre-European Admixture with Native Americans

et al. 2014

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“…If they followed a more southern route in the Pacific, then they would be helped by more eastbound ocean currents and westerly winds. After we had finished our molecular genetic studies of the 1971 serum samples, Storey et al [30,31] analysed the remains of some chickens found in El Arenal in the southern part of Chile. Most interestingly, by mtDNA analysis they found that the chickens were of Polynesian type, while radiocarbon investigations showed that the remains dated back to 1300 -1400.…”

Section: How Did the Early Amerindians Reach Easter Island?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Polynesian gene pool: an early contribution by Amerindians to Easter Island

Thorsby

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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It is now generally accepted that Polynesia was first settled by peoples from southeast Asia. An alternative that eastern parts of Polynesia were first inhabited by Amerindians has found little support. There are, however, many indications of a ‘prehistoric’ (i.e. before Polynesia was discovered by Europeans) contact between Polynesia and the Americas, but genetic evidence of a prehistoric Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian gene pool has been lacking. We recently carried out genomic HLA (human leucocyte antigen) typing as well as typing for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y chromosome markers of blood samples collected in 1971 and 2008 from reputedly non-admixed Easter Islanders. All individuals carried HLA alleles and mtDNA types previously found in Polynesia, and most of the males carried Y chromosome markers of Polynesian origin (a few had European Y chromosome markers), further supporting an initial Polynesian population on Easter Island. The HLA investigations revealed, however, that some individuals also carried HLA alleles which have previously almost only been found in Amerindians. We could trace the introduction of these Amerindian alleles to before the Peruvian slave trades, i.e. before the 1860s, and provide suggestive evidence that they were introduced already in prehistoric time. Our results demonstrate an early Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian gene pool on Easter Island, and illustrate the usefulness of typing for immunogenetic markers such as HLA to complement mtDNA and Y chromosome analyses in anthropological investigations.

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“…Previous studies of modern and ancient chickens have identified both haplogroup D and E in the Pacific (14)(15)(16)(17)26), making interpretation of colonization history difficult due to potentially contrasting origins and dispersal histories (24). Indeed, the presence of haplogroup E in the Pacific has been used to infer a link between Polynesia and pre-Columbian South America, although both the phylogenetic signal and radiocarbon dating of the samples have been questioned (27)(28)(29). This issue has recently taken on more significance as other studies of ancient genetic diversity in South America emphasize the importance of evidence for pre-European Polynesian contact (17,30).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using ancient DNA to study the origins and dispersal of ancestral Polynesian chickens across the Pacific

Thomson

Lebrasseur²,

Austin

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

127

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Significance Ancient DNA sequences from chickens provide an opportunity to study their human-mediated dispersal across the Pacific due to the significant genetic diversity and range of archaeological material available. We analyze ancient and modern material and reveal that previous studies have been impacted by contamination with modern chicken DNA and, that as a result, there is no evidence for Polynesian dispersal of chickens to pre-Columbian South America. We identify genetic markers of authentic ancient Polynesian chickens and use them to model early chicken dispersals across the Pacific. We find connections between chickens in the Micronesian and Bismarck Islands, but no evidence these were involved in dispersals further east. We also find clues about the origins of Polynesian chickens in the Philippines.

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Pre-Columbian chickens, dates, isotopes, and mtDNA

Cited by 37 publications

References 5 publications

Genome-wide Ancestry Patterns in Rapanui Suggest Pre-European Admixture with Native Americans

Genome-wide Ancestry Patterns in Rapanui Suggest Pre-European Admixture with Native Americans

The Polynesian gene pool: an early contribution by Amerindians to Easter Island

Using ancient DNA to study the origins and dispersal of ancestral Polynesian chickens across the Pacific

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