Human adaptation in Verkoyansk. From frozen bodies to present day populations.

The project HUMAD-MAFSO investigates the settlement history and human adaptations to one of the coldest areas of the world, the mountain region of Verkoyansk, where populations of autochthonous hunter-gathers (Youkaghirs and their ancestors), cow herders and horse breeders (Yakuts already present in 1638) and populations of Russian origin coexisted and/or coexist. The settlement history will be investigated by comparing both modern and ancient populations, by using the same genetic markers. Adaptations will be studied on the basis of the co-evolution between man and the environment, by focusing on the evolution of infectious diseases, parasites and microbes. This research will involve on one hand the excavation and sampling of frozen tombs, and on the other hand, the sampling of modern populations. For the latter, an emphasis will be made on the investigation of infectious diseases, already considered by our team.

Campaign 2012

Year 3/3

This programme is based on the study of ancient and modern human populations. It is a focused research project, fitting within the research axes of the new laboratory AMIS (Institute INEE, CNRS). It is also the centre of a wide network of collaborations, French and international, which should result in the creation of an international French-Russian laboratory in January 2011. At the same time, questions regarding the relationship between man and the environment will be explored. For instance, what are the relationships regarding climatic variation at the end of the 17th century (well documented in Europe) and the human settlement in the region of Verkhoyansk ? The interrogation of primary archives (dendrochronology, pollen cores) could be used to complement our data. The relationship between man and animals could be assessed in the same way, our excavations will reveal many animal furs well preserved (genetic studies can be possible). These findings could involve other laboratories within the Institute INEE. We believe that this program could be the catalyst of scientific capacity in the region of Verkhoyansk, and to develop research in one of the coldest regions of the world (outside polar regions) in a multidisciplinary framework.

Campaign 2011

Year 2/3

In 2011 the programme HUMAD-MAFSO on the origin of the Yakut settlement and the co-evolution of man-environment will be focused in three areas. The one where the most important discoveries have been made this year ; an other one at the west in an area which has been survey in 2009 but not explored in 2010 and at least in an area, 250 kilometers north of Verkhoyansk, in a place where iakoutian graves could have been discovered in the seventies and which could be one of the north extension of this culture. The mission will benefit from the fieldworks that have been undertaken in 2010 in the region of Verkhoyansk. We hope to excavate a dozen frozen graves. In the continuity of work already completed, we will sample for genetic studies in ancient DNA (mitochondrial DNA, Y-STR, autosomal STR, SNP) and results compared with those from modern populations of the region. Other sampling (DNA, histology) will focus on paleomicrobiology in order to assess the cause of death by infectious diseases. In parallel, we will try to begin blood sampling on a well-defined modern population sample, in order to detect putative emerging zoonoses.

Campaign 2010

Year 1/3

In 2010 the programme HUMAD-MAFSO on the origin of the Yakut settlement and the co-evolution of man-environment will be focused in the Verkhoïansk region. Historical data details that this region was already inhabited in the 17th century, at least by the Yakuts and the Youkhagirs, but nothing was known until 2009 (the date of our prospection). The mission will excavate, using proven methods which have been developed over seven years in Central Yakutia and Viliouï, tens of frozen tombs containing exceptional cultural material (discovered in our 2009 prospection). Samples will be taken for genetic studies in ancient DNA (mitochondrial DNA, Y-STR, autosomal STR, SNP) and results compared with those from modern populations of the region. Other sampling (DNA, histology) will focus on paleomicrobiology in order to assess the cause of death by infectious diseases. In parallel, blood sampling will be carried out on a well-defined modern population sample, in order to detect putative emerging zoonoses in the continuity of the research carried out in Viliouï.