Archaeogenetics

History glossary

Also called: Ancient DNA studies · Topic: Harappan (Sindhu-Sarasvati) Civilisation · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 4 "Timeline and Sources of History"; Class 12, Ch 1 "Bricks, Beads and Bones"

Meaning

Archaeogenetics is the study of DNA taken from ancient human remains, using the methods of genetics. DNA is the material inside our cells that passes from parents to children. By reading ancient DNA, scientists can trace where populations came from, how they mixed and how they are related to people today. It adds a new kind of evidence to pots, bricks and texts.

Example

Vasant Shinde's team began DNA work at Rakhigarhi, Haryana, from 2013. The study was published in Cell in 2019. As NCERT presents it, the study found that the Harappans were indigenous (native to the region), with genetic roots going back to c. 10,000 BCE. It also found continuity with today's South Asians and only a small mixing of genes through trade contacts. NCERT says this rules out a large-scale "Aryan" immigration, while noting that the Harappan–Vedic link still needs more research.

Don't confuse with

  • Archaeo-zoology / archaeo-botany: these fields study animal bones and plant remains. Archaeogenetics studies human DNA.

Related concepts

Read more