Subject
Phylogeny, Ancient DNA, Sus (Wild Boar), Neolithic Expansion, Island Southeast Asia, Oceania, M3 Molars, DNA Extraction, 2D Imaging, Digital Camera, Principal Component Analysis, Molar Shape, Fourier Coefficients, Inverse Fourier Method, Research Insights, Lapita Culture

Domains
Archéologie, Anthropologie, Biologie, Histoire, Ethnologie, Sciences Sociales, Sciences du vivant, Sciences humaines

Description

Human settlement of Oceania marked the culmination of a global colonization process that began when humans first left Africa at least 90,000 years ago. The precise origins and dispersal routes of the Austronesian peoples and the associated Lapita culture remain contentious, and numerous disparate models of dispersal (based primarily on linguistic, genetic, and archeological data) have been proposed. Here, through the use of mtDNA from 781 modern and ancient Sus specimens, we provide evidence for an early human-mediated translocation of the Sulawesi warty pig (Sus celebensis) to Flores and Timor and two later separate human-mediated dispersals of domestic pig (Sus scrofa) through Island Southeast Asia into Oceania. Of the later dispersal routes, one is unequivocally associated with the Neolithic (Lapita) and later Polynesian migrations and links modern and archeological Javan, Sumatran, Wallacean, and Oceanic pigs with mainland Southeast Asian S. scrofa. Archeological and genetic evidence shows these pigs were certainly introduced to islands east of the Wallace Line, including New Guinea, and that so-called “wild” pigs within this region are most likely feral descendants of domestic pigs introduced by early agriculturalists. The other later pig dispersal links mainland East Asian pigs to western Micronesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. These results provide important data with which to test current models for human dispersal in the region.

Keywords

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Larson Greger , Cucchi Thomas, Fujita Masakatsu , Matisoo-Smith Elizabeth , Robins Judith , Anderson Atholl, Rolett Barry , Spriggs Matthew , Dolman Gaynor , Kim Tae-Hun , Thi Dieu Thuy Nguyen , Randi Ettore , Doherty Moira , Awe Due Rokus , Bollt Robert , Djubiantono Tony , Griffin Bion , Intoh Michiko , Keane Emile , Kirch Patrick , Li Kuang-Ti , Morwood Michael , Pedriña Lolita M. , Piper Philip J. , Rabett Ryan J. , Shooter Peter , Van den Bergh Gert , West Eric , Wickler Stephen , Yuan Jing , Cooper Alan , Dobney Keith

Contributors

Sources
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 104 (12):4834-4839

Relation
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0607753104

Coverage
Island Southeast Asia, Oceania

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