America’s Native Population Traced to Single Asian Migration Wave, According to Dental Anthropologists

USA: Dental anthropologists, engaged in over 50 years of studying human tooth shape variations, have made significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of the origins of America’s native population. 

The latest findings, published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, propose that Native Americans, who first migrated into North and South America about 16,000 years ago, trace their roots to a single population that split from East Asian populations during the last major continental migration event.

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Innovative Approach to Dental Variation

Leslea Hlusko, a researcher from the Dental Anthropology Group at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), is part of the international team behind the research. 

The team, utilizing a forensic analysis program named rASUDAS2, predicted the ancestry of 1,418 ancient individuals from six geographical regions across Asia and the Americas. The findings indicate that Native American individuals share a significant affinity with East Asia, supporting the hypothesis of a single migration wave.

The study suggests that the Native American population, which exhibits a 10% to 15% classification as East Asians, likely originated from a population residing in the region of Beringia for 5,000–10,000 years before their migration into the Americas during the last ice age. This prolonged stay in the Beringia region subjected the population to intense environmental selection.

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Affinity with Arctic Populations

Furthermore, the research team discovered that Native Americans exhibit an affinity with Arctic populations, indicating potential intermixing. However, this similarity decreases with distance from the Arctic, suggesting a later migration of Arctic populations into the region and subsequent intermingling.

The study is part of the European project Tied2Teeth, led by Leslea Hlusko, aiming to create a comprehensive dental variation database. This database will enable more extensive and diverse analyses in the future, offering insights into the intricate details of human migration and population dynamics.

Hlusko emphasizes, “Our study shows the power of analyzing dental variation at the level of the individual, and is just a preview of what is to come.” This breakthrough not only sheds light on the ancient roots of America’s native population but also underscores the potential of dental anthropology in unraveling the complexities of human history and migration.