Genetic analysis of Paleo-Colombians from Nemocón, Cundinamarca provides insights on the early peopling of northwestern South America

Abstract

The Checua site within Nemocón in the eastern Andean Region of Colombia has produced evidence of hunter-gatherer activities from 9500-8700 cal yr BP. The aim of this work was to analyze genetically the Checua group according to mitochondrial DNA HVR-I sequence data. Following strict criteria of authenticity for studies of ancient DNA, extracted DNA was amplified and sequenced for each of the human remains. Twelve of the 22 human remains from Checua were successfully assessed (54.54%) in this study. Paleo-Colombian Checua revealed the Native American haplogroups A2, B2 and C1, plus the rare haplogroup D4h3a, reported for the first time in ancient Colombia. Comparison between Paleo-American and modern Colombian genetic data demonstrates the continuity of A2, B2, and C1, and a probable discontinuity of D4h3a since prehistoric times in Colombia, if not a shortage of D4h3a records in the literature and/or databases, while D1 is present in modern Colombia. The presence of D4h3a, A2, B2, and C1 haplogroups from Colombian early Holocene burials supports genetic evidence for Paleo-American dispersals downward by the Pacific coast. Our Paleo-Colombian DNA data, along with other genetic, archaeological, and paleoenvironmental published data, allow us to bring forward an Integrated Migration Model for the early peopling of northwestern South America, which involved different movements: (1) North-to-South along the coast; (2) West-to-East across the Andean mountain ranges; (3) Riverine discovery and riverside colonization.