In recent times, the genetic analysis of ancient human remains has contributed significantly to the study of the human past, especially in the subjects of admixture, migrations and social organisation. By utilising distinct methods and source materials, genomic research is adding considerable value to conclusions reached by other disciplines, such as archaeology and history. However, the geographical region of the Levant has only very recently been the subject of genomic research, and the region of Jordan rarely at all, due to poor environmental conditions that hinder DNA preservation and limited access to archaeological excavations and therefore sampling of ancient remains. My Master’s thesis project aimed at generating genome-wide data for 16 Bronze and Iron Age skeletal human remains excavated in the archaeological site of Pella, a multi-period site located in the North Jordan Valley that hasn’t yet been sampled for DNA studies. I also aimed at analysing the resulting data in context with genomic data from the wider region of the Levant, by means of several standard population genetics tests. Additionally, genomic results were interpreted making use of historical and bio-archaeological records specific to the site of Pella. Through an initial assessment of the sequencing data, only six libraries were selected to be included in genome-wide analyses. Surprisingly, the performed tests show two very distinct genomic profiles among the six libraries: four of them have the expected Neolithic-to-Iron Age Levantine profile, while the other two show affinity with ancient and present-day East Asian populations. These results suggest that human mobility in Bronze-to-Iron Age Eurasia could have happened over distances much longer than previously thought. Further target enrichment will provide more power to either reinforce of reject these preliminary results.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-532648 |
| Date | January 1900 |
| Creators | Soler i Núñez, Andrea |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för biologisk grundutbildning |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess, info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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