The Story of Human Migration: Your Life in a Tooth | Carolyn Freiwald | TEDxUniversityofMississippi

Summary

In this insightful presentation, the speaker explores migration from both a historical and personal perspective. By examining how migration is reflected in human bones and teeth, the speaker connects ancient movements to contemporary experiences. Using archaeological findings, the speaker highlights how people have been migrating for thousands of years, driven by common needs like education, work, and family. Personal anecdotes are interwoven, including the speaker’s own migration story, emphasizing that migration is an essential part of the human experience. The narrative challenges stereotypical views of migration, offering a more nuanced and relatable understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Migration is often depicted through images of desperation, but most migrations occur for more common reasons such as education, jobs, family, or love.
• 😀 Humans have been migrating for thousands of years, from ancient civilizations like the Maya to historical figures like Vikings, showing that mobility is intrinsic to humanity.
• 😀 Our bodies, especially our bones and teeth, carry a history of migration, as they hold information about the places we've lived and the foods we've eaten.
• 😀 Teeth can reveal a person's ancestry and where they lived at different points in their life, based on the minerals found in their enamel.
• 😀 The concept that 'you are what you eat' is key in understanding migration, as elements in the food we consume can tell us where we lived and when.
• 😀 By studying the tooth enamel, archaeologists can determine the diet and geographic location of individuals at different stages of life.
• 😀 Ancient migration is studied by analyzing remains from places like Copan, where rulers like Yahoo Moe wore foreign clothing, but were found to be native to the region.
• 😀 The story of migration among the Maya people includes commoners who moved frequently, with up to 25% of the population of a village being migrants.
• 😀 The discovery of a tomb in Belize revealed that not all rulers were foreign; migration often involved commoners rather than royalty moving across regions.
• 😀 Migration is a personal story for the speaker, whose grandparents migrated from Germany, illustrating that migration affects everyone, no matter the time period or reason.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind the speaker's discussion of migration?

The main idea is to shift the focus from the typical, often negative portrayal of migrants in the media to a broader and more historical perspective that highlights the common, human reasons for migration throughout history, such as seeking education, employment, and better living conditions.

How do teeth provide insights into migration?

Teeth, particularly the enamel, contain minerals and elements that reflect a person’s diet and the geographic locations where their food came from. This can help determine where an individual lived at different stages of their life and can indicate migration patterns.

What is significant about the Maya ruler 'Yahom' in the context of migration?

The Maya ruler Yahom, known as 'Sun-faced First Macaw', was initially believed to be a foreign king because of his clothing, which was typical of central Mexico. However, analysis of his teeth and bones revealed that he probably originated from the Maya region, suggesting he was a migrant who lived in multiple places before becoming a ruler in Copan.

What role did DNA analysis play in studying ancient migration?

DNA analysis was used to determine the ancestry and origins of individuals, helping archaeologists confirm or challenge historical assumptions about migration and the identity of people from past civilizations, such as the ruler in Copan or the inhabitants of the Eliza Bella settlement.

What did the discovery of the tomb in San Antón each reveal about the ruler?

The discovery of the tomb in San Antón each, where the remains of a ruler were found along with valuable artifacts, showed that the ruler was likely a local Maya queen or royal figure. DNA and tooth enamel analysis contradicted earlier assumptions that she might have been a foreign leader.

What example does the speaker give to highlight the migration of commoners in ancient civilizations?

The speaker mentions that about 25% of the population in ancient Maya cities consisted of migrants, including men, women, and children who moved from different places and sometimes lived in the same households, showing that migration was common among the Maya.

How does the speaker connect personal migration stories to the larger theme of migration?

The speaker shares their own family's migration history, mentioning how their grandparents immigrated from Germany in the 1920s. This personal anecdote highlights the shared human experience of migration, emphasizing that people have always moved for hope and opportunity, which connects to the broader story of migration throughout history.

What was the significance of the cemetery west of Jackson, Mississippi?

The cemetery in Mississippi, where settlers and former slaves were buried in the early 1800s, offered insights into the lives of people who lived there. By studying the remains, archaeologists could piece together stories of migration, the struggles of enslaved individuals, and the lives of poorer farmers and sharecroppers.

What surprising discovery did the speaker make during their research in Eliza Bella?

The speaker discovered that the population at Eliza Bella included people who were not listed on the original ship's rosters, such as indigenous Taino women, individuals of African descent, and others who came from Europe, revealing a more complex and diverse picture of the settlement's inhabitants.

What does the speaker mean by saying 'migration is part of my story'?

The speaker refers to their own family history, noting that their grandparents migrated from Germany to the U.S., which is part of their personal story. This serves to emphasize that migration is a shared human experience, and it’s a part of who they are, just as it is for many others.