A man buried in India in the Modern era

Andaman
Portrait reconstruction
Specimen Details
Sample ID:
Andaman
Date:
1800 CE - 1920 CE
Biological Sex:
Male
mtDNA:
M*
Y-DNA:
P-F20148
Cultural Period:
Great Andaman People 100BP
Location
Country:
India
Locality:
Great Andaman Island
Coordinates:
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Great Andamanese people, who inhabited the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, are one of the indigenous groups of the Andaman Islands. When discussing the Great Andamanese around 100 years before present (BP), it's essential to recognize the multifaceted aspects of their culture, lifestyle, and challenges during this period. Here is a detailed description of the Great Andamanese people and their way of life during this era:

Social Structure and Lifestyle

  1. Tribal Organization:

    • The Great Andamanese were originally composed of several tribes, each speaking its own distinct language. Traditionally, these tribes were organized around family units, with strong kinship ties forming the basis of their society.
    • Their social structure was likely egalitarian, with decisions made collectively or by respected elders and leaders.
  2. Subsistence and Economy:

    • The Great Andamanese were primarily hunter-gatherers. Their diet consisted of a wide range of natural resources, including game like pigs and fish, as well as wild fruits, roots, and honey.
    • Fishing and foraging were vital components of their subsistence economy, with a deep knowledge of their environment allowing them to utilize the diverse resources available.
  3. Settlements:

    • They lived in semi-permanent settlements, often near coastal areas for easy access to fishing. Temporary shelters made from natural materials like leaves and wood were commonly used.

Cultural Practices

  1. Language:

    • The Great Andamanese people historically spoke several languages which were part of a distinct language family known as the Great Andamanese languages. However, many of these languages were facing decline even by 100 BP due to contact with other cultures.
  2. Art and Craft:

    • They were skilled in crafting tools and weapons such as bows and arrows, canoes, and baskets. These items were not only practical but often had artistic and cultural significance.
    • Body art, such as tattooing and body painting, played an essential role in their cultural expression and identity.
  3. Religion and Beliefs:

    • The Great Andamanese practiced animism, where they believed in spirits that inhabited natural elements such as the sea, forest, and animals.
    • Rituals and myths were central to their spiritual life, often linked to the cycles of nature and their daily survival.

Challenges and Contact with Outsiders

  1. European and Colonial Encounters:

    • By 100 years BP, the Great Andamanese had been significantly impacted by British colonial presence. Initial contact dates back to the 19th century, leading to drastic population decline due to diseases, displacement, and cultural disruption.
    • Colonizers often misunderstood or ignored the subtleties of their culture, contributing to the erosion of their traditional way of life.
  2. Population Decline:

    • Disease and violence from encounters with colonizers and other outsiders led to a significant reduction in the Great Andamanese population.
    • Efforts were made by colonial administrations to 'civilize' and settle the Great Andamanese, which further disrupted their cultural and social structures.

Modern Implications

  • Cultural Preservation:
    • By 100 BP, there was an urgent need for efforts to preserve what remained of their language, culture, and traditions amidst the overwhelming pressures of modernization and assimilation.
    • Today, the Great Andamanese culture is considered endangered, with ongoing efforts required to document and revitalize their traditions.

In essence, the Great Andamanese people 100 years before present lived a life deeply tied to their environment and rich in cultural traditions. However, they faced immense challenges due to external pressures and colonial influences, leading to significant changes in their way of life. Understanding their history and cultural legacy is crucial for the preservation and respectful acknowledgment of their heritage.

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Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
Andaman Great Andaman People 100BP 1800 CE Great Andaman Island, India View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (Andaman) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Ancient Asians 61%
Ancient Oceanians 16%
Neolithic Farmers 13%
Ancient Africans 6%
Western Steppe Pastoralists 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (Andaman) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.

These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.

Asia 80%
Central Asian, Northern Indian & Pakistani 48%
Indian 48.3%
Chinese & Southeast Asian 23%
Indonesian Khmer Thai Myanma 11.7%
Chinese 7.0%
Tibetan 3.8%
Japanese & Korean 9%
Japanese 8.6%
Northern Asian 0%
Oceania 14%
Melanesian 14%
Papuan 14.1%
Africa 5%
Northern East African 3%
Eastern African 3.0%
West African 2%
Senegambian & Guinean 1.7%
America 1%
America 1%
Native American 1.4%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample Andaman are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

Andaman,-0.00882554,-0.2119567,-0.12534738,0.08193412,0.0077348,-0.01676574,-0.00416824,0.00195198,0.02723064,0.01174802,-0.0106314,-0.00121264,-0.00037098,0.0038798,-0.00314802,-0.00836262,0.00255072,0.00070548,0.00077372,-0.00138292,-0.00020226,0.00453772,-0.00170068,0.00241926,0.00198947
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Early human dispersals within the Americas
Authors:
Moreno-Mayar JV, Vinner L, de Barros Damgaard P
Abstract:

Studies of the peopling of the Americas have focused on the timing and number of initial migrations. Less attention has been paid to the subsequent spread of people within the Americas. We sequenced 15 ancient human genomes spanning from Alaska to Patagonia; six are ≥10,000 years old (up to ~18× coverage). All are most closely related to Native Americans, including those from an Ancient Beringian individual and two morphologically distinct "Paleoamericans." We found evidence of rapid dispersal and early diversification that included previously unknown groups as people moved south. This resulted in multiple independent, geographically uneven migrations, including one that provides clues of a Late Pleistocene Australasian genetic signal, as well as a later Mesoamerican-related expansion. These led to complex and dynamic population histories from North to South America.

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