The Genetic History of Peruvian Quechua-Lamistas and Chankas: Uniparental DNA Patterns among Autochthonous Amazonian and Andean Populations

Abstract

This study focuses on the genetic history of the Quechua-Lamistas, inhabitants of the Lamas Province in the San Martin Department, Peru, who speak their own distinct variety of the Quechua family of languages. It has been suggested that different pre-Columbian ethnic groups from the Peruvian Amazonia, like the Motilones or "shaven heads", assimilated the Quechua language and then formed the current native population of Lamas. However, many Quechua-Lamistas claim to be direct descendants of the Chankas, a famous pre-Columbian indigenous group that escaped from Inca rule in the Andes. To investigate the Quechua-Lamistas and Chankas' ancestries, we compared uniparental genetic profiles (17 STRs of Q-M3 Y-chromosome and mtDNA complete control region haplotypes) among autochthonous Amazonian and Andean populations from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The phylogeographic and population genetic analyses indicate a fairly heterogeneous ancestry for the Quechua-Lamistas, while they are closely related to their neighbours who speak Amazonian languages, presenting no direct relationships with populations from the region where the ancient Chankas lived. On the other hand, the genetic profiles of self-identified Chanka descendants living in Andahuaylas (located in the Apurimac Department, Peru, in the Central Andes) were closely related to those living in Huancavelica and the assumed Chanka Confederation area before the Inca expansion.

Keywords: Amazonia; Andes; Chankas; Quechua-Lamistas; Y-SNPs; Y-STRs; human history; indigenous South Americans; mtDNA.

Figure 1

The major ethnic groups mapped by the 17^th century in the Department of San Martin, Peru.

Figure 2

Locations of the 15 Peruvian and Ecuadorian populations under study. Conventional population codes are found in “Material and Methods”. Localities cited in text are also depicted in the numbered squares: 1‐Napo River (Ecuador, Peru); 2‐Pastaza River (Ecuador, Peru); 3‐Amazonas River, Iquitos, Peru; 4‐Marañon River, Peru; 5‐Yurimaguas, Peru; 6‐Moyobamba, Peru; 7‐Huallaga River, Peru; 8‐Chachapoyas, Peru; 9‐Cajamarca, Peru; 10‐Pucallpa, Peru; 11‐Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru; 12‐Nuevo Mundo, Cusco, Peru; 13‐Huancavelica, Peru; 14‐Andahuaylas, Peru; 15‐Cusco, Peru and 16‐Titicaca Lake in the Altiplano region (Peru and Bolivia).

Figure 3

Median joining network for Q‐M3 Y‐STR haplotypes among 15 Peruvian and Ecuadorian populations. The population groups are depicted with distinct colours (red, light blue, blue and its spectrum = Quechuan language family; green spectrum = languages from Amazonian ethnic groups). The haplotypes composed of alleles on 15 Y‐STRs are represented by circles with sizes proportional to numbers of individuals, and branch lengths are proportional to STR mutation steps (one step unit between haplotypes in the W1 branch). W1‐W5 are the specified Quechua‐Lamista clans identified by “surname”.

Figure 4

MDS plot for Q‐M3 Y‐STR data among 15 Peruvian and Ecuadorian populations. Reynolds’ Rst genetic distances were used among populations. Amazonian populations are represented by circles, Andean populations by squares and the Quechua‐Lamista population by a triangle.

Figure 5

Median Joining network for A2, B2, C1 and D1 control region mtDNA haplotypes among 15 Peruvian and Ecuadorian populations. The population groups are depicted with distinct colours (red, light blue, blue and its spectrum = Quechuan language family; green spectrum = languages from Amazonian ethnic groups). The control region mtDNA haplotypes are represented by circles with sizes proportional to numbers of individuals, and branch lengths are proportional to mutation steps (nucleotide changes). Clusters of haplotypes into four mtDNA haplogroups (A2, B2, C1, D1) are indicated. W1‐W4 are the specified Quechua‐Lamista clans identified by “surname”.

Figure 6

MDS plot for haplogroup A2, B2, C1 and D1 control region mtDNA sequences among 15 Peruvian and Ecuadorian populations. Reynolds’ Φst genetic distances among populations were used. Amazonian populations are represented by circles, Andean populations by squares and the Quechua‐Lamista population by triangles.