Who Were the Nasca? Population Dynamics in Pre-Columbian Southern Peru Revealed by Ancient DNA Analyses

Abstract

Through the analysis of ancient DNA from human mortal remains it is possible to gain access to a biohistoric archive containing relevant information about the structure of prehistoric populations. The data obtained help to answer questions related to migration processes and population relationships that could not be answered by the methods of cultural science alone. The aim of this study was to show to what extent the cultural evolution of the southern Peruvian Palpa area was accompanied by processes of population exchange. Bone and tooth samples of over 200 individuals from prehistoric burial grounds from southern Peru were collected and examined with the methods of ancient DNA analysis. The study focuses on the matrilineal population dynamics by the analysis of mitochondrial genetic markers. Mitochondrial haplogroups and types could be successfully determined for over 100 individuals from different archaeological periods. The obtained data were compared with mitochondrial data from recent Native American populations. The results allow us to describe to what extent cultural changes were influenced by allochthonous contributions to the gene pool and how changes in the socioecological complexity of the cultures affected the genetic composition of the Palpa valley population. Also, a significant differentiation of ancient coastal and highland populations in southern Peru is detectable as are changes in the mitochondrial haplogroup distribution patterns as a result of the emergence of the extensive highland empires in later South American prehistory.