#  Solving mystery at tip of South America 

 





November 14, 2025

 

 

 ![David Reich (left) and Javier Maravall Lopez.](/sites/g/files/omnuum1771/files/2025-11/Screenshot%202025-11-25%20at%2011.13.43%E2%80%AFAM.png)

 

David Reich (left) and Javier Maravall Lopez. *Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer*A new study published in *Nature* [reveals a previously unknown human lineage that persisted in the central Southern Cone of South America](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__harvard.us12.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Deb85d7a5a3fb4e531ad907e64-26id-3D0f2f78b4d4-26e-3D743b104af9&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=Xf30MvXOYwes31ylE_ULQDXPrWnZmiqSihLlsvXdNWw&m=SMNJlk0eWRlXIv7x5lBAGhHank5embb8mPmeFDqb8XFRZTjEit10DUno_niT9TGQ&s=w5wSUcrJr2AAVZWnjF9LDIvRvsJoHrxH9f-fHn_dinE&e=) for more than 8,000 years. Lead author Javier Maravall López, a Ph.D. student in Human Evolutionary Biology, and senior author David Reich (professor in HEB and of genetics at Harvard Medical School), analyzed ancient DNA from more than 230 individuals and discovered a previously unknown ancient lineage that gave rise to a surprisingly diverse mix of indigenous cultures.  
  
[Read the full article here](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/11/solving-mystery-at-tip-of-south-america/).  
  
By Kermit Pattison



 

 

 



 

 

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