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Scientists have uncovered a surprising new lineage of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived near the land bridge between North and South America around 6,000 years ago. The discovery offers fresh insights into how early humans spread across the continent.

The discovery, revealed through ancient DNA analysis, is reshaping the understanding of the peopling of the Americas.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the study describes a genetically distinct group of early humans who lived in the high-altitude plateaus near present-day Bogotá, Colombia.

This area, often considered the "gateway" to South America, now appears to have hosted a lineage not previously recognized in ancient or modern populations.

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A Genetic Puzzle 

This new lineage doesn't match the genetic profile of ancient Native Americans from North America, nor does it align with ancient or contemporary South American populations. That makes their discovery particularly puzzling — and groundbreaking.

“Up to this point, we didn’t believe there was any other lineage that would appear in South America,” said archaeologist Andre Luiz Campelo dos Santos of Florida Atlantic University, who was not involved in the research. “This is unexpected.”

The ancient hunter-gatherers inhabited the region for about 2,000 years before disappearing from the genetic record. By around 2,000 years ago, they were replaced by a different human population.

What Happened to the Ancient Hunter-Gatherers?

Researchers remain unsure whether this ancient group was absorbed into another population, moved on, or was wiped out by environmental or social changes. More DNA evidence from the region may help solve the mystery.

“Analyzing more genes in South America will help confirm if this new group truly did disappear or if there could be evidence of their descendants elsewhere,” Campelo dos Santos noted.

Colombia’s Highlands Home to Ancient Hunter-Gatherers

The location of this discovery is vital to understanding how humans migrated southward. The highlands of Colombia are considered a key corridor that ancient humans would have crossed after entering the Americas via the Bering Land Bridge.

“The area is ‘the gateway to the South American continent,’” said lead study author Andrea Casas-Vargas from the National University of Colombia.

This discovery opens new avenues of research into the early peopling of the Americas and highlights that there is more to be uncovered about our ancient ancestors.

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