Ancient DNA from Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Groups from Northern Spain

[JeanL]

Ancient DNA from Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Groups from Northern Spain Supports a Random Dispersion Model for the Neolithic Expansion into Europe

Abstract

Background/Principal Findings
 
The phenomenon of Neolithisation refers to the transition of prehistoric populations from a hunter-gatherer to an agro-pastoralist lifestyle. Traditionally, the spread of an agro-pastoralist economy into Europe has been framed within a dichotomy based either on an acculturation phenomenon or on a demic diffusion. However, the nature and speed of this transition is a matter of continuing scientific debate in archaeology, anthropology, and human population genetics. In the present study, we have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA diversity in hunter-gatherers and first farmers from Northern Spain, in relation to the debate surrounding the phenomenon of Neolithisation in Europe.

Methodology/Significance
 
Analysis of mitochondrial DNA was carried out on 54 individuals from Upper Paleolithic and Early Neolithic, which were recovered from nine archaeological sites from Northern Spain (Basque Country, Navarre and Cantabria). In addition, to take all necessary precautions to avoid contamination, different authentication criteria were applied in this study, including: DNA quantification, cloning, duplication (51% of the samples) and replication of the results (43% of the samples) by two independent laboratories. Statistical and multivariate analyses of the mitochondrial variability suggest that the genetic influence of Neolithisation did not spread uniformly throughout Europe, producing heterogeneous genetic consequences in different geographical regions, rejecting the traditional models that explain the Neolithisation in Europe.

Conclusion
 
The differences detected in the mitochondrial DNA lineages of Neolithic groups studied so far (including these ones of this study) suggest different genetic impact of Neolithic in Central Europe, Mediterranean Europe and the Cantabrian fringe. The genetic data obtained in this study provide support for a random dispersion model for Neolithic farmers. This random dispersion had a different impact on the various geographic regions, and thus contradicts the more simplistic total acculturation and replacement models proposed so far to explain Neolithisation.

Hunter-Gatherers samples:

1-La Pasiega, Cantabria, Magdalenian (n=1)
Haplogroups:

1-H

2-La Chora, Cantabria, Magdalenian (n=1)
Haplogroups:

1-H6

3-Eralla, Guipuzcoa, Magdalenian 12310 ybp (n=1)
Haplogroups:

1-U5

4-Aizpea, Navarra, Mesolithic 6600 ybp (n=1)
Haplogroups:

1-U5b1

Population codes are here: http://www.plosone.org/article/slideshow.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0034417&imageURI=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0034417.t001

Haplogroup info for other sites are here: http://www.plosone.org/article/slideshow.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0034417&imageURI=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0034417.t001#

Examples of Paleolithic-Neolithic continuity:

Marizulo, Guipuzcoa Early Neolithic 5285 ybp shares haplotype 21 with Eralla, Guipuzcoa both being haplogroup U5

3-samples from Los Cascajos, Navarra Early Neolithic 6185-5185 ybp, 2 from Paternanbieda, Navarra Early Neolithic 6090-5960 ybp, 1-Fuente Hoz,Alava Neolithic 5240-5160 ybp, and 1-Urtiaga, Guipuzcoa Bronze Age 3475-3430 ybp all share rCRS of Haplogroup H with La Pasiega, Cantabria.

[Maliclavelli]

I have published many posts, here and elsewhere, also against the last paper of Behar et al. about hgs. H, but also R0a, HV, K etc.
There are 3 hg. H which are probably the witnesses of the most ancient H, like some outliers I have found for some Y: 1 is from France, the second belong to an American woman adopted, whose autosomal is at least 60% Italian. I hope to ascertain soon her maternal origin. Anyway probably nothing from Middle East.

[Maliclavelli]

This is the American sample of probably Italian origin
Sample Id: JN573371
Unresolved Options: H1aj;H3-T16189C!;
Partial Descendants:
Private Mutations: T4002C; C4029T; T4232C; T4907C; T6975C; G9921A; C12378T; A14133G; A16041G; C16287T; G16526A;
Topologically Missing: C16189T(L2'3'4'6);
Country:
Geography:
Ancestry:
Reference: FamilyTreeDNA
Contact:

This is from Shlush, then from Middle East, but as I think having demonstrated about the H26 I have spoken about on another thread, it may have come from Europe
Sample Id: EU600353
Unresolved Options: H15b;H56a;
Partial Descendants:
Private Mutations: G54c; T55a; A200G; T3847C; T6253C; A9336G; G9612A; A9644G; A10819G; G13145A; T16086C;
Topologically Missing:
Country:
Geography:
Ancestry:
Reference: Shlush 2008
Contact:

This is another sample from Achilli
Sample Id: AY738948
Unresolved Options: H1br;
Partial Descendants:
Private Mutations: A237G; A1555G; G3531A; A4715G; T5201C; G8838A; T10454C; C12362T; G12730A; G13928A; A16335G;
Topologically Missing:
Country:
Geography:
Ancestry:
Reference: Achilli 2004
Contact:
[ /country="Spain"]