Utilization of aDNA to Model Sociocultural Dynamics

经济交流、文化转型和社会复杂性受到人口迁移和流动的严重影响。 本研究试图利用古代DNA（aDNA），以更好地了解这种影响的地区与有限的以前的文化研究。 根据不同遗址之间的遗传联系，将有可能解决在不同遗址之间移动和进入其他地区的个人如何反映已挖掘的考古组合变化的问题。这反过来又有助于更好地理解当今频繁发生的个人流动和文化融合所带来的转变和变化。对这些遗址的样本进行放射性碳测年还将有助于完善该地区的历史，并对文化变化和动态进行建模。此外，两名学生将参加为期一个月的暑期课程，将向他们介绍古代DNA领域和所需的实验室技术。由于缺乏广泛的古代DNA设施，这将为未来的工作和合作提供有益的培训和基础。因为世界总是通过人们的流动、商品的交换和文化特征的共享而联系在一起，所以可以在个人的基因组以及他们留下的考古遗址中找到这种证据。本研究由多条调查线组成，涉及基因流动，遗传变异，移民，贸易和社会之间的相互作用等问题。整个线粒体DNA基因组（mitogenomes）将被测序的个人，以评估DNA之间的关系和移民和通婚模式所证明的物质文化。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Economic exchange, cultural transformation, and social complexity are heavily influenced by migration and movement of people. This research seeks to use ancient DNA (aDNA) to better understand such influences in regions with limited previous cultural study. Based on the genetic ties between various sites, it will be possible to address questions of how individuals moving between the different sites, and into other regions, reflect changes in the archaeological assemblages that have been excavated. This, in turn, can help to better understand today’s shifts and changes that have been brought about by the movement of individuals and mixing of cultures which occur so frequently. Radiocarbon dating for samples from the sites will also allow for refining the history of the region and modeling cultural changes and dynamics. Additionally, two students will attend a month-long summer course that will introduce them to the field of ancient DNA and the required laboratory techniques. Due to the lack of widespread ancient DNA facilities, this will allow for helpful training and grounding for future work and collaboration. Because the world has always been connected through the movement of people, exchange of goods, and sharing of cultural traits, the evidence of such can be found within the genomes of individuals as well as in the archaeological sites they leave behind. The present research is comprised of multiple lines of inquiry that address questions on gene flow, genetic variation, migration, trade, and interaction among societies. Whole mitochondrial DNA genomes (mitogenomes) will be sequenced for the individuals in order to assess the relationship between DNA and intermigration and intermarriage patterns as evidenced by material culture.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.