Locals, Resettlers, and Pilgrims: A Genetic Portrait of Three Pre-Columbian Andean Populations

The Antiquity of Southeastern Europe Research Center, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 32,00-927 Warsaw, PolandKEY WORDS Acchaymarca; ancient DNA; microsatellites; Puca; Tompullo 2ABSTRACT The common practice of resettlementand the development of administrative and ceremonialsystems shaped the population landscape of the Andeanregion under the Inca rule. The area surrounding Coro-puna and Solimana volcanoes, in the Arequipa region(Peru), carried a high-density, multiethnic population.We studied the genetic variation among three pre-Columbian populations from three functionally diversearchaeological sites excavated in this region. By analyz-ing the genetic composition of a large ceremonial center(Acchaymarca), an isolated pastoral settlement (Tom-pullo 2), and an agricultural settlement characterizedby architectural features rare in the region (Puca), weinvestigated the patterns of population movements andthe distribution of genetic diversity. We obtained mito-chondrial DNA sequences for 25 individuals and auto-somal microsatellite profiles for 20 individuals fromAcchaymarca and Puca sites. These were comparedwith previously published genetic data for Tompullo 2and other pre-Columbian populations. We found differ-ences among the genetic portraits of the three popula-tions, congruent with the archaeologically describedfunctions and characteristics of the sites. The Acchay-marca population had the highest genetic diversity andpossessed the lowest number of unique mtDNA haplo-types. The Tompullo 2 population exhibited the lowestlevel of genetic diversity. The Puca population was dis-tinct from the other two populations owing to a highfrequency of haplogroup A haplotypes, what potentiallyexplains the non-local character of the burial architec-ture. Our analyses of microsatellite data suggest thatgene flow between sites was mostly mediated byfemales, which is consistent with ethnohistorical knowl-edge of the social organization of the pre-Columbiancommunities. Am J Phys Anthropol 000:000–000,2014.