Ancient DNA from Vanuatu
41 ancient people from Vanuatu have had their genome published, from 1,040 BC to AD 1815. Here they are on a map and period by period, with their archaeological cultures and haplogroups.
Main archaeological groups: Vanuatu 2900BP (7), Vanuatu 150BP (6), Vanuatu 3000BP (4), Vanuatu 400BP (4), Vanuatu 1200BP (3).
Most frequent Y-DNA lines: C1b (5), M (5), O1a (4), S (4), BT (1), O2a (1).
Most frequent mtDNA lines: B4a (14), P1d (5), P2 (4), R (3), M28a (2), M28b (2).
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Period by period
3,000 to 1,000 BC (1 individual)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,040 BC | Vanuatu 3000BP | Teouma |
1,000 BC to AD 1 (19 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 BC | Vanuatu 3000BP | Teouma | BT | |
| 1,000 BC | Vanuatu 3000BP | Teouma | O1a2 | B4a1a1a1 |
| 995 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | B4a1a1 | |
| 935 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | R | |
| 935 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | ||
| 935 BC | Vanuatu 3000BP | Teouma | ||
| 935 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | ||
| 920 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | B4a1a1 | |
| 920 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | B4a1a1 | |
| 870 BC | Vanuatu 2900BP | Teouma | O1a1a1a | B4a1a1a |
| 715 BC | Vanuatu 2700BP | Malakula | B4a1a1a11 | |
| 617 BC | Vanuatu 2600BP | Malakula | M | B4a1a1a |
| 575 BC | Vanuatu 2500BP | Malakula | B4a1a1a | |
| 540 BC | Vanuatu 2500BP | Tanna | M | Q2a |
| 450 BC | Vanuatu 2400BP | Mele-Taplins | C1b2a | Q1b |
| 310 BC | Vanuatu 2300BP | Mele-Taplins | S | M28a7a |
| 290 BC | Vanuatu 2200BP | Malakula | B4a1a1 | |
| 288 BC | Vanuatu 2200BP | Malakula | B4a1a1a | |
| 88 BC | Vanuatu 2000BP | Malakula | B4a1a1a |
AD 1 to 1000 (6 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 645 | Vanuatu 1300BP | Burumbe | M | B4a1a1k |
| AD 690 | Vanuatu 1300BP | Burumbe | M | P1d1 |
| AD 712 | Vanuatu 1200BP | Futuna | M28b1 | |
| AD 741 | Vanuatu 1200BP | Futuna | S | P1d2a |
| AD 746 | Vanuatu 1200BP | Futuna | S | M28b1 |
| AD 791 | Vanuatu 1100BP | Futuna | P1d2a |
After AD 1000 (15 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 1470 | Vanuatu 500BP | Mangalitu | P1f | |
| AD 1550 | Vanuatu 400BP-o | Mangaasi | ||
| AD 1550 | Vanuatu 400BP | Retoka | P2 | |
| AD 1550 | Vanuatu 400BP | Retoka | C1b2a1 | B4a1a1 |
| AD 1563 | Vanuatu 400BP | Retoka | C1b2a1 | P2 |
| AD 1563 | Vanuatu 400BP | Retoka | C1b2a1 | P2 |
| AD 1735 | Vanuatu 150BP | Pangpang | P1d2 | |
| AD 1748 | Vanuatu 200BP | Banana Bay | C1b2a1 | |
| AD 1748 | Vanuatu 200BP | Tanna | O2a2b2a2b | P1d1 |
| AD 1794 | Vanuatu 200BP-oPolynesian | Mangaasi | ||
| AD 1800 | Vanuatu 150BP | Wam Bay | O1a2 | M28a+204 |
| AD 1810 | Vanuatu 150BP | Banana Bay | S | R |
| AD 1810 | Vanuatu 150BP | Pango Village | M | R |
| AD 1810 | Vanuatu 150BP | Wam Bay | O1a2 | B4a1a1a11 |
| AD 1815 | Vanuatu 150BP | Ifira | P2 |
Excavation sites
- Teouma 11, 1,040 BC to 870 BC
- Malakula 6, 715 BC to 88 BC
- Futuna 4, AD 712 to AD 791
- Retoka 4, AD 1550 to AD 1563
- Banana Bay 2, AD 1748 to AD 1810
- Burumbe 2, AD 645 to AD 690
- Mangaasi 2, AD 1550 to AD 1794
- Mele-Taplins 2, 450 BC to 310 BC
- Tanna 2, 540 BC to AD 1748
- Wam Bay 2, AD 1800 to AD 1810
- Ifira 1, AD 1815
- Mangalitu 1, AD 1470
- Pango Village 1, AD 1810
- Pangpang 1, AD 1735
Source: Allen Ancient DNA Resource v66 (Mallick et al. 2024), individuals with a date and coordinates; samples the AADR flags as misdated are left out. Group names are those of the original studies. Haplogroups are shown when they could be read from the ancient DNA.