Paleo-Genetic and Paleo-Pathological Studies at Pachacamac: Methodological Issues and Preliminary Results

Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis can be a useful tool for sex determination, general mitochondrial lineage (haplogroup) and disease diagnosis in human remains. However, non-endogenous DNA contamination of archaeological material is a recurrent problematic, since excavation, handling and storage usually don't fit with the precautions recommended for ancient DNA analysis. Here, we present preliminary aDNA results from several human individuals recovered by the Ychsma Project (ULB) from the monumental archaeological site of Pachacamac, Peru, a corpus dating from 500 to 1400 AD where a high proportion of diseases is suspected. Our objectives are to complete the demographic information and to characterize the health status of the population buried in this pilgrimage site dedicated to the eponymous healing god. Our preliminary results show that, despite an important human DNA contamination, a strict selection of DNA reads with short sizes and damage patterns that are typical for ancient DNA was useful to determine the sex of most individuals, and mitochondrial haplogroup of some. The data were also used to estimate the presence of several pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Treponema pallidum and Leishmania. Our preliminary results suggest that our approach is appropriate for the detection of paleopathological conditions in this major archaeological corpus.
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished