ISLAMABAD: Archaeologists have uncovered 6,000-year-old skeletons at the preceramic site of Checua in Colombia with DNA unlike any known modern Indigenous population.
This discovery reveals an extinct genetic lineage that vanished completely from today’s gene pool.
The findings could fundamentally reshape our understanding of how humans first populated South America.
Unique Genetic Lineage Discovered
Researchers analyzed DNA from 21 individuals who lived in the Bogota Altiplano between 6,000 and 500 years ago.
The oldest skeletons carry a distinct ancestral signature, which has no descendants among modern populations.
This suggests an early human group spread rapidly across South America but eventually disappeared without passing on their genes in the region.
Population Shift Without Conflict
Around 2,000 years ago, the genetic landscape in the Bogota highlands changed dramatically.
The original lineage was replaced by a new population genetically related to ancient Panamanians and modern Chibchan-speaking groups in Central America.
Archaeologists found no evidence of war or violence, indicating a peaceful transition likely caused by migration, cultural exchange, or intermarriage.
Lead researcher Kim-Louise Krettek emphasized the importance of the region as a land bridge connecting North and South America and a crossroads of major cultural zones.
This discovery marks Colombia’s first study of ancient DNA and opens the door for further genetic research in neighboring regions like Venezuela and Ecuador.
This breakthrough promises to deepen our knowledge of early human migration patterns and cultural evolution in the Americas.
