6,000-Year-Old Skeletons Found Colombia Reveal Unique Lost Ancestry

Archaeologists have uncovered 6,000-year-old skeletons at the Checua site near Bogotá, Colombia, revealing a mysterious hunter-gatherer group with DNA that does not match any known ancient or modern Indigenous populations in the region. Genetic analysis of 21 individuals showed a unique ancestral lineage that likely descended from some of the earliest humans to reach South America, remaining genetically isolated and distinct for thousands of years before disappearing entirely from the gene pool. This lineage did not blend with other populations but was replaced around 2,000 years ago by migrants from Central America, who brought new technologies and languages to the Bogotá highlands. The findings highlight the importance of the Isthmo-Colombian area as a critical transition zone in the peopling of the Americas and challenge previous understandings of ancient population dynamics in the region. Researchers emphasize that the Checua individuals derive from the earliest populations to spread rapidly across South America, underscoring a complex history of migration and population replacement. This discovery offers new insights into the genetic and cultural evolution of early South American inhabitants and the broader migration patterns across the continent.