Ancient DNA and Stable Isotopes

• Main Authors: O'Rourke, Dennis, Tackney, Justin, Coltrain, Joan, Raff, Jennifer
• Other Authors: Friesen, Max, Mason, Owen
• Format: Book
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University Press 2016
• Subjects: Arctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199766956.013.3

Genetic diversity in modern Arctic communities provides a baseline from which to assess population history. This is augmented by documenting patterns of genetic variation in prehistoric populations using ancient DNA methods, and inferring dietary resource information and adaptive strategies derived from stable isotope analyses. This chapter uses this multidisciplinary approach to examine population history and colonization events in the Aleutians of South Alaska, and the origin and population history of Paleoeskimo and Neoeskimo populations of the North American Arctic. The power to identify past demographic events relies on knowledge of both genetic and isotopic signatures of demographic events, and on acquisition of securely dated and well provenienced samples for analysis.