An ancient DNA Pacific journey: a case study of collaboration between archaeologists and geneticists. Issue 4 (8th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spriggs, Matthew; Reich, David
• Is Part Of: World archaeology. Volume 51:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 620
• Page End: 639
• Publication Date: 2019-08-08
• Subjects: Ancient DNA -- palaeogenomics -- collaboration between archaeologists and geneticists -- interdisciplinary perspectives; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archéologie -- Périodiques; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00438243.2019.1733069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-8243

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We present a case-study of a collaboration between archaeologists and geneticists that has helped settle a long-standing controversy and opened up new research questions for the Pacific region. The work provided insights into the history of human settlement and cultural changes in Vanuatu in the western Pacific, which in turn shed light on the origins of the cultural and linguistic diversity that characterizes the archipelago. Close interdisciplinary collaborations like this maximize the potential of ancient DNA to contribute to our understanding of the past and advance the scholarship of practitioners in both disciplines.