JOURNAL ARTICLE

Ancient South Americans arrived in three waves—and had some surprising ancestry: Genetically diverse groups arrived in three waves, some potentially carrying genes acquired from long-ago Australasian ancestors.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Wade, Lizzie 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on recent genetic research revealing that South America was populated by at least three distinct migration waves, challenging previous assumptions of a single, homogeneous settlement. The third migration, identified about 1,300 years ago, shows genetic links to Mesoamerican populations but remains poorly understood due to limited ancient DNA evidence. Additionally, some ancient and modern South Americans carry a small but persistent proportion of Australasian ancestry, possibly inherited from populations in Beringia, with certain genes related to fertility and immune response that may have undergone natural selection. These findings highlight the complex and diverse population history of South America prior to colonialism. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2026/04, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:193223581
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