Genetic studies reveal prehistoric population continuity in Spain and Ecuador

New genomic research published in Science Advances and PNAS Nexus provides insights into prehistoric human movements and continuity across different continents.

In Spain, researchers from the University of Cantabria and the University of Vienna analyzed remains from the El Mirón and Chufín caves. The study indicates that while certain genetic lineages persisted in southwestern Europe during the Upper Paleolithic, these populations also maintained contact with other groups across the continent during the Last Glacial Maximum.

In Ecuador, an international team led by the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed DNA from four individuals at the Salango archaeological site. The findings reveal a genetic continuity within the coastal Ecuadorian population spanning approximately 1,500 years. Additionally, the analysis of a 2,300-year-old infant provided evidence of tuberculosis in South America well before European arrival.