Anzick-1

Anzick Boy
Common nameAnzick Boy
SpeciesHomo sapiens
Age12,990–12,840 years BP
Place discoveredNear Wilsall, Montana, U.S.
Date discovered1968

Anzick-1 was a young (1–2 years old) Paleoindian child whose remains were found in south central Montana, United States, in 1968. He has been dated to 12,990–12,840 years Before Present.[1] The child was found with more than 115 tools made of stone and antlers and dusted with red ocher, suggesting a deliberate burial.[2] Anzick-1 is the only human whose remains are associated with the Clovis culture, and is the first ancient Native American genome to be fully sequenced.[3]

Paleogenomic analysis of the remains revealed Siberian ancestry and a closer genetic relationship to modern Native Americans of Central and South America than to those of North America.[4][3] These findings support the hypothesis that modern Native Americans are descended from Asian populations who crossed Beringia between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago.[4][3]

Anzick-1's discovery and subsequent analysis has been controversial. The remains were found on private land, so compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was not required in their study. However, some Native American tribal members in Montana felt they should have been consulted before the researchers undertook analysis of the infant's skeleton and genome.[5] Montana State law does require consultation with Native Americans concerning disposition of ancient skeletal remains.

After consultation, Anzick-1 was reburied on June 28, 2014, in the Shields River Valley in an intertribal ceremony.[2] The numerous Clovis artifacts associated with the first burial are curated at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, Montana.[2]

  1. ^ Becerra-Valdivia, Lorena; Waters, Michael R.; Stafford, Thomas W.; Anzick, Sarah L.; Comeskey, Daniel; Devièse, Thibaut; Higham, Thomas (2018-07-03). "Reassessing the chronology of the archaeological site of Anzick". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 115 (27): 7000–7003. Bibcode:2018PNAS..115.7000B. doi:10.1073/pnas.1803624115. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 6142201. PMID 29915063.
  2. ^ a b c French, Brett (June 28, 2014). "Remains of ancient child ceremoniously reburied". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 28 Jan 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Raff, Jennifer; Bolnick, Deborah (February 13, 2014). "Palaeogenomics: Genetic roots of the first Americans". Nature. 506 (7487): 162–163. Bibcode:2014Natur.506..162R. doi:10.1038/506162a. PMID 24522593.
  4. ^ a b Rasmussen, Morten; et al. (February 13, 2014). "The genome of a Late Pleistocene human from a Clovis burial site in western Montana". Nature. 506 (7487): 225–229. Bibcode:2014Natur.506..225R. doi:10.1038/nature13025. PMC 4878442. PMID 24522598.
  5. ^ Callaway, Ewen (February 12, 2014). "Ancient genome stirs ethics debate". Nature. 506 (7487): 142–143. Bibcode:2014Natur.506..142C. doi:10.1038/506142a. PMID 24522580.