Ancient genomic research - From broad strokes to nuanced reconstructions of the past.

Abstract

Ancient DNA (aDNA) studies have deployed genetic material from archaeological contexts to investigate human dispersals and interactions, corroborating some longstanding hypotheses and revealing new aspects of human history. After drawing the broad genomic strokes of human history, geneticists have discovered the exciting possibilities of applying this method to answer questions on a smaller scale. This review provides an overview of the commonly used methods, both in the laboratory and the analyses, and summarizes the current state of genomic research. It reviews human dispersals across the continents and additionally highlights some studies that integrated genomics to answer questions beyond biology to understand the cultural and societal traits of past societies. By shining a light from multiple angles, we gain a much better understanding of the real shape of the human past.