North and South in the ancient Central Andes: Contextualizing the archaeological record with evidence from linguistics and molecular anthropology

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Conflicts of Interest

Identified Weaknesses

Rating Explanation

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Paper Summary

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Andean Ancestry Adventures: North vs. South, but Still Kinda Kinfolk

The ancient Central Andes, rather than being a single unified cultural block, comprised distinct Northern and Southern interaction spheres reflecting more intense interactions within each region than between them. This north-south structure, discernible in archaeological, linguistic, and genetic data, appears around 2,000 years ago, suggesting that demographic population structure might predate the development of complex cultural identities and political organization.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Weaknesses

Incomplete data and reliance on reconstructions

The study relies on reconstructions of past linguistic and genetic landscapes, which, while based on the best available evidence, are inherently incomplete and subject to revision as new data emerges. This limits the certainty of conclusions about the precise nature and timing of interactions between different cultural spheres.

High level of abstraction and potential oversimplification

The study primarily focuses on macro-level patterns, glossing over significant details within each discipline. While necessary for addressing the broad research question, this high level of abstraction might obscure nuances and complexities in the cultural development of the Central Andes.

Uneven sampling and limited coverage of certain regions

The limited sampling of populations, particularly for the coast and certain highland regions, restricts the ability to draw definitive conclusions about the demographic structure and gene flow within and between interaction spheres. Denser sampling, especially in underrepresented regions, is necessary to refine the understanding of these patterns.

Challenges in correlating data with different temporal resolutions

The correlation of linguistic, genetic, and archaeological data requires careful consideration of the different temporal resolutions inherent in each discipline. The linguistic and genetic data offer snapshots of diversity at specific points in time, while the archaeological record provides a more continuous, though not always precisely datable, perspective on cultural trajectories. This discrepancy in temporal resolution can complicate the interpretation of interactions between different disciplines.

Rating Explanation

This interdisciplinary study makes a significant contribution by integrating archaeological, linguistic, and genetic evidence to address the question of cultural cohesiveness in the ancient Central Andes. The use of multiple lines of evidence and the detailed analysis of genetic data, including new analyses of haplotype exchange and demographic simulations, strengthen the study's conclusions. Despite some limitations related to data completeness and sampling coverage, the findings provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between different cultural spheres and their demographic history. The study's approach and findings are relevant not only for understanding the prehistory of the Andes, but also for broader questions about the relationship between cultural and biological diversity in human populations.

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