Sicán Politics and Population: Nuclear Genomic Perspective

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Why are there clustered and dispersed Middle Sicán (900-1100CE) monumental mounds in the Lambayeque region of northern coastal Peru? What do these mounds reveal about Sicán politics and demography? As one investigative avenue to answer these questions, DNA was extracted from 15 human burials excavated at three mounds of the Sicán capital: Ventanas, Loro, and Lercanlech. It was analyzed using a next-generation sequencer. The entire mtDNA sequences for one specimen each from Ventanas and Lercanlech and the mtDNA haplogroups were identified as A2 and C1, respectively. These haplogroups are unique to indigenous peoples of the Americas. Nuclear genome analysis was possible for the young adult woman from Lercanlech. SNP data was combined with the data from both modern and ancient South Americans, and PCA was performed to clarify the genetic characteristics of this person. Compared to other open-source New World population data, this individual is positioned within those from South America. Indigenous Andeans are known to have regionally distinct genetic characteristics since ancient times. Further analysis may reveal related regional populations. We discuss how the Lecanlech person relates to the modern and ancient South American regional populations and cultural inferences that can be drawn.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37936.0