Community-engaged ancient DNA project reveals diverse origins of 18th-century African descendants in Charleston, South Carolina.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we present the results of community-engaged ancient DNA research initiated after the remains of 36 African-descended individuals dating to the late 18th century were unearthed in the port city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Gullah Society of Charleston, along with other Charleston community members, initiated a collaborative genomic study of these ancestors of presumed enslaved status, in an effort to visibilize their histories. We generated 18 low-coverage genomes and 31 uniparental haplotypes to assess their genetic origins and interrelatedness. Our results indicate that they have predominantly West and West-Central African genomic ancestry, with one individual exhibiting some genomic affiliation with populations in the Americas. Most were assessed as genetic males, an

SUBMITTER: Fleskes RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9934026 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature