Utilization of aDNA to Model Sociocultural Dynamics

经济交流、文化转型和社会复杂性深受人口迁移和流动的影响。这项研究试图利用古代DNA （aDNA）来更好地理解在以前文化研究有限的地区的这种影响。基于不同遗址之间的遗传联系，将有可能解决个人如何在不同遗址之间移动以及进入其他地区的问题，反映出已经挖掘的考古组合的变化。反过来，这可以帮助我们更好地理解今天由于频繁发生的个人流动和文化混合所带来的转变和变化。对这些遗址的样本进行放射性碳定年也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，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。由于世界一直是通过人员流动、商品交换和文化特征共享而联系在一起的，因此这些证据可以在个人基因组以及他们留下的考古遗址中找到。目前的研究是由多个调查线，解决问题的基因流动，遗传变异，移民，贸易和社会之间的互动。将对个体的全线粒体DNA基因组（有丝分裂基因组）进行测序，以评估DNA与物质文化所证明的迁徙和异族婚姻模式之间的关系。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.