Scientists have identified a long-lost group of hunter-gatherers who vanished from Colombia’s highlands 2,000 years ago, reshaping our understanding of ancient human migrations in South America.
A groundbreaking DNA analysis has revealed traces of a previously unknown indigenous population that lived in what is now Colombia—and vanished thousands of years ago without leaving a genetic legacy. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest a complete population turnover in the Colombian Andes, where today’s capital, Bogotá, now stands.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from 21 human skeletons unearthed at five archaeological sites on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, a high plateau in central Colombia. These included samples from different time periods, ranging from early hunter-gatherers who lived 6,000 years ago to more recent indigenous groups from just over 500 years ago.
The study found that the earliest group—hunter-gatherers who inhabited the Checua site 6,000 years ago—had unique genetic signatures that disappeared entirely around 4,000 years ago. “We have not been able to find any descendants of these early hunter-gatherers from the Colombian Highlands,” researchers noted. “That means there has been a complete population exchange around Bogotá.”
Later populations, including those from the Herrera and Muisca cultures, show genetic ties to groups that likely migrated from Central America, bringing with them new technologies such as ceramics. This suggests a major cultural and demographic shift took place between 6,000 and 2,000 years ago.
The Herrera period, beginning around 2,800 years ago, saw the rise of pottery and more complex settlement patterns. However, how these innovations reached the highlands had remained unclear until now. The genetic evidence strongly supports the theory that migrating populations introduced these cultural changes—replacing the earlier indigenous group entirely.
This study not only uncovers a lost chapter of human history in South America but also challenges long-held assumptions about cultural continuity among indigenous communities in the Andes.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port ci...
An Afghan national linked to an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the 20...
Rivers around the world experienced one of their driest years in decades in 2025, according to the World Meteorological Organization, which&n...
U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying Tehran will not negotiate until its conditions are met.
A Danish military helicopter came within “metres” of being struck by flares fired by a Russian warship, Denmark's Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said on Tuesday. Russia accused Denmark of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” near its ship, and said it was investigating the incident.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepen regional tensions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is outlining the EU's priorities in her annual State of the Union address, covering security, support for Ukraine, trade with China, migration, climate and artificial intelligence.
Governments need to move faster to manage the security risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), defence officials and experts warned at a major security conference in Beijing.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world “cannot afford a race to the bottom” on artificial intelligence safety, calling for stronger global safeguards as increasingly powerful systems develop faster than understanding of their risks.
Warnings from researchers at leading U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) developer Anthropic, that increasingly powerful AI models could escape human control have drawn attention in China, where policymakers have already been preparing for some of the same risks.
The U.S. has deployed weapons in Earth’s orbit capable of defending its forces against hostile action, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said, marking the first public acknowledgement of such capabilities.
Shares in artificial intelligence-related companies fell sharply across Asian markets on Monday, after some of the industry's most prominent chief executives warned that the breakneck pace of AI development needs to slow down.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment