Genomic insights into ancestry and infectious disease in 17th-century colonial Brazil.

ABSTRACT: During urban redevelopment in the historic district of a Brazilian metropolis, archaeologists uncovered a previously undocumented 17th-century cemetery, containing the closely spaced remains of over two dozen young adult males of military age. Historical records suggest the site once housed a makeshift hospital, raising questions about the origins and causes of death of those interred, particularly given the absence of skeletal evidence for violent or fatal trauma. The current study integrates bioarchaeological, historical, and genomic data to investigate the ancestry and putative disease-related mortality of nine individuals whose remains were recovered and subsequently sequenced. Population-genetic analyses revealed strong affinities with Northern European populations, particularly from

SUBMITTER: Calix KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710828 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature