The question of Pre-Clovis occupation of the American continents plays prominently in my new novel, Hearts in Ruin. The mystery of humanity’s occupation of the continent is not mere fiction. Evidence continues to be developed that challenges past presumptions, including the recent DNA sequencing of a skeletal remains.

The genome sequence of a male infant who lived 12,600 years ago from a Clovis burial site (shown here with poles) in Wilsall, Mont., suggests many contemporary Native Americans are direct descendants of the people who made and used Clovis tools. Credit: Mike Waters

The “Anzick” skeleton of a small boy dating from Clovis period time (11,500-9,500 BCE) was found in Montana many years ago. Radiocarbon dating of the burial show the burial is dated at 10,600 BCE. Scientists have been able to do a full genome sequence of the DNA of the boy. They have found that the genome is closely related to all Native Americans today.  This DNA study puts to rest the idea that the Clovis people were from a Solutrean group from Europe. The DNA study shows there is a deep divergence between northern Native Americans and those from Central and South America that happened before the Clovis era.

Most South Americans and Mexicans are of the Anzick lineage. But northern Canadian groups are of another lineage. The boy was buried with antler tolls that were 400 years older than the boy, showing this was an object passed down over generations.

The full report is on the February 13 issue of the journal Nature.

Live Science has the story here:

http://www.livescience.com/43329-prehistoric-boy-may-be-native-american-missing-link.html

A nearly complete projectile point of dendritic chert, a mid-interval biface of translucent quartz, displaying relatively heavy red ochre residue and an “end-beveled” osseous rod, also exhibiting red ochre residue. These artifacts are technologically consistent with artifacts of the Clovis complex. Credit: Sarah L. Anzick

Related articles

• America’s only Clovis skeleton genome offers clues to Native American ancestry (phys.org)
• Genome Of Ancient Skeleton Shows Native Americans Came From Asia (asianscientist.com)
• Prehistoric boy may have been Native American ‘missing link’ (mnn.com)
• First complete genome sequence of an ancient North American offers clues to Native American ancestry (intellihub.com)
• Pristine prehistoric skeleton of teenage girl found in underwater cave (ctvnews.ca)
• Ancient DNA Links Native Americans (education.nationalgeographic.com)
• DNA Synthesis, Clinical IT Integrations and Mickey Mouse-Themed Wedding
• Earliest American Genome Proves Siberian Origins of Native Peoples (blogs.discovermagazine.com)
• Ancient Clovis genome from Montana yields no surprises (Rasmussen et al. 2014) (dienekes.blogspot.com)
• Prehistoric girl’s bones in underwater cave helps link ancient and modern native Americans (theprovince.com)