DNA adds new chapter to Indonesia鈥檚 layered human history
A new study from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide and The 最新糖心Vlogn National 最新糖心Vlog (ANU) has outlined the first genomic evidence of early migration from New Guinea into the Wallacea, an archipelago containing Timor-Leste and hundreds of inhabited eastern Indonesian islands.
Senggo Village, Mappi Regency, Papua, Indonesia. Credit: Gludhug Purnomo.
The study, , addresses major gaps in the human genetic history of the Wallacean Archipelago and West Papuan regions of Indonesia 鈥 a region with abundant genetic and linguistic diversity that is comparable to the Eurasian continent 鈥 including the analysis of 254 newly sequenced genomes.
In combination with linguistic and archaeological evidence, the study shows that Wallacean societies were transformed by the spread of genes and languages from West Papua in the past 3,500 years 鈥 the same period that Austronesian seafarers were actively mixing with Wallacean and Papuan groups.
鈥My colleagues at the Indonesian Genome Diversity Project have been studying Indonesia鈥檚 complex genetic structure for more than a decade, but this comprehensive study provides confirmation that Papuan ancestry is widespread across Wallacea, pointing to historical migrations from New Guinea,鈥 says lead author Dr Gludhug Ariyo Purnomo, from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 School of Biological Sciences.
鈥淏y connecting the dots between genetics, linguistics, and archaeology, we now recognise West Papua as an important bio-cultural hub and the launching place of historical Papuan seafarers that now contribute up to 60% of modern Wallacean ancestry.鈥
Genomic research is also becoming increasingly important for developing new medicines tailored to specific genetic backgrounds.
Gludhug Ariyo Purnomo (right) discusses the research program with a participant, detailing the process and ensuring informed consent is obtained. Credit: Herawati Sudoyo.
鈥淚n the era of precision medicine, understanding the genetic structure of human groups is vital for developing treatments that are helpful rather than harmful, with Wallacea and New Guinea having been poorly represented in past genomic surveys,鈥 Dr Purnomo says.
Associate Professor Ray Tobler, from ANU, says Wallacea had been isolated for more than 45,000 years since the arrival of the first human groups, and the more recently arriving Papuan and Austronesian migrants reconfigured Wallacean culture by introducing new languages that diversified and intermingled to create its rich linguistic landscape.
鈥淥ur findings suggest that the Papuan and Austronesian migrations were so extensive that they have largely overwritten the ancestry of the first migrants, making the recovery of these ancient migrations from genetic data challenging,鈥 says Professor Tobler, who is also an Adjunct Fellow at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 最新糖心Vlogn Centre for Ancient DNA.
According to the researchers, there are challenges in reconstructing past movements of people using modern genetic data due to historical migrations and movements.
鈥淭here's also been so much movement in Wallacea in the past couple of thousand years, due to the spice trade and slavery, that it obscures the relationship between geography and genetics,鈥 Associate Professor Tobler says.
鈥淲hat we know about Wallacea and New Guinea is just the tip of the iceberg, but the use of ancient DNA can help to overcome some of these challenges and help us to understand the origins and legacy of human journeys to the region stretching back tens of thousands of years.鈥
Media contact:
Dr Gludhug Ariyo Purnomo, School of Biological Sciences, 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. Phone: +61 0431 169 772, Email: gludhug.purnomo@adelaide.edu.au
Associate Professor Ray Tobler, Senior Fellow, School of Culture, History and Language, 最新糖心Vlogn National 最新糖心Vlog. Phone: +61 0424 533 046, Email: ray.tobler@anu.edu.au
Johnny von Einem, Senior Media Officer, 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. Phone: +61 0481 688 436, Email: johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au
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