6,000-Year-Old Skeletons with Unprecedented Ancient DNA Redefine Early Human Ancestry

6,000-Year-Old Skeletons in Colombia Reveal Lost Human Lineage

Archaeologists in Colombia have uncovered 6,000-year-old skeletons at the ancient site of Checua, near Bogotá, belonging to a mysterious hunter-gatherer population. Their DNA reveals a unique genetic lineage unlike any modern Indigenous group in the region, suggesting a vanished chapter of human history.

A Genetic Mystery
The remains, spanning 6,000 to 500 years old, show the oldest individuals carried ancestry distinct from both ancient South American groups (like those in Chile or Brazil) and North American populations. This lineage diverged early from the first humans to reach South America and remained isolated for millennia. Surprisingly, their genes vanished entirely from the region’s modern population.

Image: Skeletons at Checua Site
[Image: Two hunter-gatherer skeletons unearthed at Checua, with caption: "6,000-year-old skeletons reveal a lost lineage in Colombia’s high plains."]

A Population Replaced
Around 2,000 years ago, a dramatic shift occurred. The original Checua lineage disappeared, replaced by DNA resembling ancient Panamanians and modern Chibchan-speaking groups from Central America. This suggests migrants introduced pottery, farming, and likely Chibchan languages—an ethnic and cultural transformation without evidence of violence.

Andrea Casas-Vargas, co-author of the study, notes this genetic discontinuity is rare in South America, where Andean populations often show continuity across millennia. The newcomers, linked to the Herrera culture, eventually shaped the Muisca civilization dominant until Spanish colonization.

Image: Genetic Analysis
[Image: Researcher examining bones, with caption: "DNA analysis shows a complete population shift in ancient Colombia."]

Cultural Bridges and Identity
The Bogotá Altiplano served as a crossroads between North and South America, connecting Mesoamerica, Amazonia, and the Andes. Lead researcher Kim-Louise Krettek emphasizes the region’s role in understanding continental migration.

Scientists stress that genetic findings don’t equate to cultural identity. Collaborating with the Muisca Indigenous community, the team respected local knowledge while unraveling history. “Our research aims to complement, not contradict, Indigenous heritage,” said Professor Cosimo Posth.

Image: Altiplano Landscape
[Image: Panoramic view of Bogotá’s high plains, with caption: "The Altiplano—a historic crossroads for ancient migrations."]

Future Discoveries Await
This study marks Colombia’s first ancient genomic dataset, hinting at undiscovered populations in neighboring regions like Ecuador and Venezuela. “Unsampled areas could rewrite our understanding of South American settlement,” Krettek explains. As more sites are analyzed, the story of humanity’s journey into the Americas promises new twists.

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