Elucidation of the human population history in boundary area between East Asia and Siberia based on ancient genome analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01356
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03060:Cultural assets study-related
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus (2023); Kanazawa University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Takehiro 琉球大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10558026)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 古代ゲノム / 古人骨 / 集団遺伝学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Whole-genome sequence (WGS) data of the late Okhotsk individual (NAT002) excavated from Rebun Island indicated genetic affinity with populations in the the Amur Basin. D tests and qpADm modeling suggested that NAT002 was an admixed individual between three ancestries, which were the Jomon, Kamchatka, and Amur ancestral components. The admixture dating suggested migration of Amur-related ancestry at approximately 1,600 BP, which is compatible with the archaeological evidence regarding the settlement of the Okhotsk people. Our results also imply migration of Kamchatka-related ancestry to Northern Japan at approximately 2,000 BP. In addition, WGS data of the early Okhotsk individual (NAT004) can be explained as an admixed individual between the Jomon and Kamchatka ancestries. This finding could be a direct evidence for the existence of the ancient admixed population between the Jomon and Kamchatka ancestries, which have been suggested by the NAT002 genome.

Free Research Field

分子人類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、従来より指摘されていた5世紀頃のアムール川下流域から北海道へのヒトの移住が裏付けられたことに加え、これまであまり指摘されてこなかった続縄文時代に相当する時期のカムチャツカ半島から北海道への移住を示唆する結果が得られた。これまで、考古学的には続縄文時代にカムチャツカ半島から北海道への移住を支持する明確な証拠は無いとされてきたが、本研究の結果は、従来の北海道考古学の研究結果について再考を促す材料のひとつとなり得る。今後、カムチャツカ半島から北海道への移住があったという前提で考古遺物を再検討すれば、考古学においても新たな発見があるかもしれない。