Extinct Human Lineage Discovered in Colombia: A 6,000-Year-Old Mystery

A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of human genetics, unearthing an extinct lineage of Homo sapiens in the Colombian highlands. The findings, published in Science Advances, reveal a previously unknown population that thrived in the region for thousands of years before mysteriously vanishing around 2,000 years ago. Professor Cosimo Posth from the University of Tübingen, a senior author on the study, stated, "These are the first ancient human genomes from Colombia ever to be published." The research involved analyzing the genetic material of 21 individuals from five archaeological sites. Seven genomes originated from the Checua site, representing a distinct lineage that diverged from other groups around the time of the initial South American dispersals. The study challenges previous models of human migration in South America, highlighting the complexity of past population dynamics and the need for further research to fully understand this ancient population's history. The complete absence of this lineage in later samples suggests a complete disappearance, not a simple merging with other groups. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding early human migration and adaptation in South America.