New research links ancient indigenous DNA to living Puerto Ricans

CBS News

23 Sept 201907:45

Summary

TLDRA new study reveals that the indigenous Taino people of pre-colonial Puerto Rico were not entirely eradicated after European colonization, as previously thought. Researchers found traces of Taino DNA in modern Puerto Ricans, challenging historical accounts of their extinction. Geneticist Maria Ava's Cologne explains how her team uncovered partial genetic continuity between ancient Tainos and present-day Puerto Ricans, offering a clearer understanding of the island’s history. This discovery bridges gaps between archaeology, genetics, and oral traditions, reshaping the narrative of the Tainos' legacy.

Takeaways

🌍 A new study reveals that the indigenous Taino tribe of pre-colonial Puerto Rico did not entirely disappear as once believed.
🔬 Researchers found genetic evidence of the Tainos in modern Puerto Ricans by analyzing ancient skeleton genomes.
📜 The idea that Tainos were eradicated stems from European colonizers' writings, but oral histories suggest otherwise.
🧬 The study discovered a genetic connection between ancient Tainos and present-day Amazonian indigenous communities.
👥 Partial genetic continuity was found between ancient Tainos and modern Puerto Ricans, although some genetic diversity has been lost.
🌿 The hot, humid climate of the Caribbean made it difficult to preserve and analyze ancient DNA, requiring advanced technology and clean lab conditions.
🧪 The research sheds light on the origin of the Tainos, indicating they might have come from present-day Brazil.
💡 The study highlights the importance of integrating oral histories, archaeological evidence, and genetics for a more complete historical understanding.
🔍 Previous research primarily focused on present-day populations but couldn't distinguish between ancient and later native ancestry.
📚 The researchers plan to expand their study to other Caribbean islands like Haiti and Cuba to see if similar genetic patterns exist.

Q & A

What was the long-standing belief about the indigenous Taino people in Puerto Rico?
-Historians previously believed that the Taino people were completely eradicated after the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century.
What new discovery challenges the idea that the Taino people were entirely wiped out?
-Researchers have found that three genomes from ancient skeletons persist in the DNA of living Puerto Ricans, suggesting that the Taino people were not completely eradicated.
Why is this discovery significant for people in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean?
-The discovery provides evidence of genetic continuity between the Tainos and present-day Puerto Ricans, supporting oral histories and cultural traditions that point to indigenous ancestry across the Caribbean.
What did the researchers find regarding the genetic connection between ancient populations of Puerto Rico and other regions?
-Researchers found a genetic link between ancient populations in Puerto Rico and indigenous communities in the Amazon, suggesting that Amazonian peoples initially populated the Caribbean islands.
What does the term 'partial genetic continuity' mean in this context?
-Partial genetic continuity refers to the fact that while some Taino genetic sequences persist in modern Puerto Ricans, much of the genetic diversity present in ancient populations has been lost.
Why was it challenging to analyze ancient DNA from the Caribbean?
-The hot and humid climate of the Caribbean causes rapid degradation of ancient DNA, making it difficult to preserve and analyze genetic material from skeletal remains.
What technological advancements made this research possible?
-Cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology, which wasn’t available ten years ago, allowed researchers to analyze the degraded genetic material and identify ancient genetic sequences.
Has there been previous research on the genetic ancestry of Puerto Ricans?
-Yes, previous research on modern-day Puerto Ricans showed a mix of Native American, African, and European ancestry, but it did not clarify how much of the Native American ancestry came from ancient Taino populations.
How does this discovery alter the historical narrative of Puerto Rico?
-This discovery challenges the narrative that the Taino people were completely wiped out and highlights the importance of integrating oral histories, archaeological evidence, and genetic data to form a more complete understanding of the past.
What are the future goals of the research team working on this project?
-The team aims to expand their research to other Caribbean islands, such as Haiti and Cuba, to see if similar patterns of genetic continuity exist, and to gather more data from ancient populations across the Americas.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Rediscovering the Taino People's Genetic Legacy

A new study reveals that the indigenous Taino people of pre-colonial Puerto Rico were not entirely wiped out as previously thought. Historians once believed the Tainos were eradicated following European colonization in the 15th century. However, new genetic research has found that ancient Taino DNA persists in modern Puerto Ricans. Geneticist Maria Ava's Cologne joins the discussion to explain how three genomes from ancient skeletons have been traced to the DNA of people living today, challenging long-held assumptions about the disappearance of the Tainos.

05:01

🔍 Shedding Light on Genetic Continuity

Maria explains the significance of the research, which confronts European colonizers' records of Taino extinction. Oral histories from Caribbean communities have long hinted at indigenous ancestry, often through stories of great-grandparents and cultural traditions. The study explored genetic continuity by analyzing ancient genomes to understand if the cultural preservation reflected a genetic lineage. Despite a genetic decline over time, some DNA sequences from ancient populations persisted in modern Puerto Ricans, proving that the Taino people were not completely extinct.

🌎 Tracing Ancient Caribbean and Amazonian Connections

The study examined 124 ancient genomes from people living in Puerto Rico between 1,000 to 600 years before European contact. Maria's team discovered two key findings: a genetic link between ancient Puerto Ricans and indigenous communities in the Amazon, suggesting Amazonian origins for Caribbean inhabitants, and partial genetic continuity between ancient populations and present-day Puerto Ricans. Although the Tainos experienced a genetic decline, the persistence of some sequences counters the narrative of complete extinction.

💡 DNA Challenges in the Caribbean

Maria highlights the challenges of analyzing ancient DNA in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean due to the region's humid climate, which accelerates DNA degradation. To overcome this, researchers employed advanced technology in highly controlled environments to prevent contamination. Specialized equipment enabled the sequencing of ancient DNA, a process that was made possible by advancements in technology over the last decade, emphasizing why this groundbreaking research took years to complete.

🧬 Studying the Genetic Mix of Caribbean Populations

The discussion turns to modern-day genetic research in Caribbean populations. Although earlier studies found a mix of Native American, African, and European ancestry in Puerto Ricans, they could not determine how much of the Native American DNA originated from the islands' ancient inhabitants versus later native peoples. The new study specifically addresses this gap by analyzing ancient DNA, providing a clearer understanding of the genetic legacy of Puerto Rico's indigenous people.

📜 Rethinking Puerto Rican History

Maria reflects on how this discovery changes the way history is viewed, particularly for marginalized indigenous communities. By combining genetic data with archaeological evidence and historical records, researchers can now construct a more complete picture of Puerto Rico's past. The study validates some oral histories and traditions, offering fresh insights into the island’s cultural and genetic continuity. It also serves as a reminder that indigenous voices and traditions are valuable sources of historical knowledge.

🌍 Expanding the Study to Other Caribbean Islands

Looking to the future, Maria mentions plans to expand the research to other Caribbean islands such as Haiti and Cuba. The goal is to gather higher-resolution genetic data from other ancient populations in the region to see if similar patterns of genetic continuity exist. This expansion will also involve collaborations across the Americas to build a broader reference point for understanding the genetic history of the Caribbean.

🔗 Accessing the Research Findings

Maria shares how people can access the research. A preprint of the study has been posted on bioRxiv, and updates are shared through Maria's Twitter handle. She emphasizes the importance of making the findings accessible and looks forward to continuing the discussion as more insights emerge from further research into the genetic history of the Caribbean.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tainos

The Tainos were the indigenous people of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean before the arrival of European colonizers. The script challenges the long-held belief that the Tainos were completely eradicated after European colonization, explaining that recent genetic research shows their DNA still exists in the modern Puerto Rican population, indicating partial survival and continuity.

💡European colonization

European colonization refers to the period during the 15th century when European powers, particularly Spain, arrived in the Americas and began to colonize regions like Puerto Rico. In the context of the video, colonization is linked to the historical narrative that the indigenous Tainos were wiped out. The new research reveals that while the population declined, their genetic legacy continues in modern-day Puerto Ricans.

💡Genetic continuity

Genetic continuity refers to the persistence of genetic material from ancient populations into modern ones. In this video, researchers discovered genetic links between the pre-colonial Tainos and present-day Puerto Ricans, challenging the idea of their total extinction. This continuity shows that aspects of the Taino population survived despite colonization.

💡Oral histories

Oral histories are the traditions and stories passed down through generations by word of mouth. In the script, the oral histories of Caribbean people often included stories of indigenous ancestors, like a Taino great-grandmother. These histories were sometimes dismissed by scholars, but the new genetic findings support these oral accounts, emphasizing their importance in understanding historical continuity.

💡Ancient DNA

Ancient DNA refers to the genetic material extracted from ancient skeletal remains, allowing researchers to analyze the genomes of people who lived thousands of years ago. The video discusses the difficulty of studying ancient DNA in the Caribbean due to the hot and humid climate, which accelerates DNA degradation. Despite these challenges, the research team was able to sequence genomes from ancient Taino skeletons.

💡Genetic diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genetic traits within a population. In the video, researchers found that while some genetic material from the Tainos survived, much of the diversity present in the ancient population was lost over time. This loss was likely due to the impact of European colonization, disease, and other factors, but the surviving genetic sequences indicate that the Tainos were not completely eradicated.

💡Amazonian connection

The Amazonian connection refers to the genetic link found between ancient Taino populations in Puerto Rico and indigenous communities in the Amazon. This suggests that the Tainos may have originally migrated from the Amazon basin. This discovery provides insight into the origins of the Taino people and their connection to other indigenous groups in South America.

💡Colonial narratives

Colonial narratives are the stories and historical interpretations written by European colonizers that often portray indigenous populations as being eradicated or disappearing. The video explains that these narratives led to the belief that the Tainos were wiped out after European contact. However, modern research and oral histories challenge these narratives, showing that indigenous cultures and peoples persisted.

💡DNA sequencing technology

DNA sequencing technology refers to the tools and methods used to decode the genetic information in an organism’s DNA. In the video, the researcher mentions the use of cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology that allowed the team to analyze the fragmented and degraded DNA from ancient skeletons. Advances in this technology over the last decade made the discovery possible.

💡Cultural continuity

Cultural continuity refers to the preservation of traditions, beliefs, and practices of a group of people over time. The video highlights that, alongside genetic continuity, there is cultural continuity among modern-day Puerto Ricans and other Caribbean populations who carry on indigenous traditions, even though the Taino people were thought to have been completely eradicated.

Highlights

A new study reveals that the indigenous Tainos of Puerto Rico were not completely eradicated, as previously believed.

Researchers found three genomes from ancient skeletons present in the DNA of modern Puerto Ricans, challenging earlier assumptions.

Historians had long assumed that the Tainos disappeared after European colonization in the 15th century.

The study found genetic continuity between ancient populations and present-day Puerto Ricans, suggesting a partial survival of Taino DNA.

Researchers analyzed genomes from 124 ancient individuals who lived in Puerto Rico 600-1,000 years before European contact.

Genetic evidence shows a connection between ancient Puerto Rican populations and indigenous communities in the Amazon.

While there was a decline in genetic diversity, the discovery of three preserved sequences disproves the theory of complete genetic extinction.

The humid climate of the Caribbean made DNA analysis particularly challenging, leading to the long duration of this research.

Advanced sequencing technologies were used to analyze ancient DNA, which wasn't available ten years ago, contributing to the extended research timeline.

The study refines historical understanding by integrating DNA evidence, archaeology, and historical records for a more complete picture.

Oral histories of Puerto Rican families, suggesting indigenous ancestry, now have genetic support through this research.

The findings highlight the need to consider oral traditions as legitimate sources of evidence in historical research.

Previous studies had focused only on modern-day populations, but this study looked at the ancient genomes to answer the question of native ancestry.

Researchers plan to expand the study to other Caribbean islands like Haiti and Cuba to see if similar genetic patterns exist.

The research helps give a voice to marginalized indigenous communities whose history was misrepresented in colonial records.