Anzick Skeleton found: Possible proof for Asian lineage within Native American population

    According to DNA from the remains of an infant found in modern day western Montana, archaeologists suspect that this particular individual is potential evidence for the theory that Clovis people were descendants from individuals originally located in Asia. Of the DNA that was retrieved from the skull of the infant, only 1-2% of it was human (Than, 2014), the remaining majority being that of bacteria growing on the cranium. I do not want to seem ignorant, due to the fact that I know very little of Native American lineage and DNA analysis, but it seems quite extreme to conclude that 1-2% of DNA can create enough evidence to support that all Native Americans are descendants from Asian ancestors. To add to that, later in the article it mentions that Native American groups in the United States are reluctant to share both their and their ancestor's DNA with scientists (Than, 2014). With minuscule amounts of human DNA being extracted from the juvenile Anzick's skeleton and an extremely small comparative sample from the U.S Native American population, based completely on statements made in this particular article (Article sited below), conclusions being made at the present time seem quite hasty. Possibly through broader comparative analysis of modern North American DNA samples (not simply the U.S), evidence for Asian descendants amongst the Native American populations can be better supported.

Western Montana, Photo by Mike Waters

Than, K. (2014), Oldest Burial Yields DNA Evidence of First Americans: Ancient genome confirms link between Asians and Native Americans. National Geographic Daily News, published February 12, 2014, retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140212-anzik-skeleton-dna-montana-clovis-culture-first-americans/
    

Hopewell Mound Skulls: Interpreting the Unknown

Rdikeman

    Often with the discovery, or re-interpretation of previously excavated burials, it it difficult to determine whether or not dismemberment was done as part of mortuary practice, or during the act of violence. Because these remains are ancient, and all living relatives have long passed on, deciphering cut marks and dismemberment of bones is often quite difficult and takes a multiple discipline approach to formulate a precise hypothesis.
     Archaeologists excavation Hopewell mounds came across this exact predicament. Anthropologists from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Cambridge,questioned whether the dismembered skulls found in Chillicothe, Ohio, were that of mortuary practices amongst honoured ancestors, or victims of violent trauma (Lepper, 2014).

Mounds at Hopewell: wikipedia

    After closely analysing 112 skulls from a collection of skulls known to be the product of headhunting practice amongst the Borneo, it was still unclear whether or not those skulls from the Hopewell mounds were the also the products of violent trauma. The arachaeologists eventually conclude that the skulls were more likely to be those of honoured ancestors, although I find this conclusion slightly hastened.  
    It was mentioned in the article that the archaeologists did not have an in-depth background in the Borneo's headhunting practices (Lepper, 2014). I personally find it odd that a conclusion can then be made using the skulls from the Borneo comparative collection, when none of the archaeologists have any amount of historical background in regards to Borneo's headhunting practices.


The article I referenced can be found here:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2014/03/02/hopewell-skulls-pose-a-mystery.html