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Polynesian chickens in the N ew W orld: a detailed application of a commensal approach
Author(s) -
Storey Alice A.,
Quiroz Daniel,
Beavan Nancy,
MatisooSmith Elizabeth
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/arco.5007
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , phylogenetic tree , affinities , mitochondrial dna , radiocarbon dating , range (aeronautics) , prehistory , ancient dna , archaeology , biology , haplogroup , interpretation (philosophy) , evolutionary biology , history , zoology , genetics , gene , linguistics , demography , haplotype , sociology , philosophy , population , biochemistry , materials science , genotype , composite material
In 2007, based on direct radiocarbon dates, we presented evidence that chickens were introduced to C hile before E uropeans first made contact with the N ew W orld. The pre‐ C olumbian age of the chicken bones and their mtDNA affinities with one of two prehistoric P acific chicken haplogroups ( E ) led us to conclude that P olynesia was the most likely origin for these pre‐ C olumbian chickens. Subsequently, the mtDNA and radiocarbon evidence provided has been applied to a range of studies and occasionally reinterpreted. This has revealed issues related to the brevity of the initial report in 2007. Here, we provide a full discussion of the evidence, including the relevant archaeological, historical and biological information necessary to provide the context for interpreting genetic analyses and understanding their implications for addressing archaeological questions. We include a comprehensive analysis of the isotope data within a geographical and temporally relevant dataset to verify the pre‐ C olumbian age of the El A renal chickens. In addition, we provide longer DNA sequences obtained from some of the ancient C hilean chicken remains to address objections raised by critics and to demonstrate that longer sequences do not change the observed affinities of the mtDNA sequences, nor their interpretation. In this analysis, historical information is used to critically evaluate the results of phylogenetic analyses. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that the examination of modern chicken DNA sequences does not contribute to our understanding of the origins of C hile's earliest chickens. Interpretations based on poorly sourced and documented modern chicken populations, divorced from the archaeological and historical evidence, do not withstand scrutiny. Instead, this expanded account will confirm the pre‐ C olumbian age of the El A renal remains and lend support to our original hypothesis that their appearance in S outh A merica is most likely due to P olynesian contact with the A mericas in prehistory.