Origins of the Maya

... were the Chibcha. h/t Razib's twitter although Saraceni is on it too.

This paper is a bombshell for several reasons, starting with the sheer technological achievement of EXTRACTING EIGHT THOUSAND YEAR OLD DNA FROM A JUNGLE. Twenty samples no less!

The first five 9600 to 7300 years ago, 7600-5300 BC, were north-to-south migrants like all Americans. From 3600 BC come the next fifteen: they replace the natives. Modern Maya (where not mixed) own half their DNA from this group.

The Maya, then, rolled up from the south. From all the way down in Costa Rica; they're genetic Chibchan (these spread south to Colombia as well). ProtoMaya is defined by the Huastec split which last I looked happened 2000 BC - a long time between 3600 BC and 2000 BC.

Another point here is the definition of "maize". Everyone knows teosinte was cultivated in Mesoamerica. Everyone also knows the Olmec were the first civilisation and weren't Maya. I'd thought it was first used only as near-beer for purifying water (and getting people stupid). Apparently the Chibchans had improved its cultivation so it became useful as to eat as well. Edible maize comes to Mesoamerica with the first Maya. So if the Olmec had the first cities, they only got the ability to scale up thanks to the Maya they met (these probably being Huastec).

They looked at some indigenous languages from Tehuantepec down to the Panama Canal to see if this migration be traceable; mostly the Lenca and Xinca. I'd suggest Mixe-Zoque as well. I'd go hunt for any human remains in between, also, although the The Lost City of the Monkey God seems accurséd so - good luck. Did the migrants settle anywhere along the way north; or did they hold off until they found a place to grow their old crop again? Did volcanos wipe their trace?

BACKDATE 3/23. As noted earlier ("tomorrow") this wasn't a fun week. So, this goes to when the paper came out.