The genetic impact of aztec imperialism: Ancient mitochondrial DNA evidence from Xaltocan, Mexico
Mata-Miguez, Jaime Overholtzer, Lisa Rodriguez-Alegria, Enrique Kemp, Brian M. Bolnick, Deborah A.
Mata-Miguez, Jaime
Overholtzer, Lisa
Rodriguez-Alegria, Enrique
Kemp, Brian M.
Bolnick, Deborah A.
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Issue Date
2012-12
Type
Article
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Keywords
Ancient DNA,mtDNA,Aztec empire,Matriline replacement,Demographic shift
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Citation
Mata-Miguez, Jaime; Overholtzer, Lisa; Rodriguez-Alegria, Enrique; Kemp, Brian M.; Bolnick, Deborah A. 2012. The genetic impact of aztec imperialism: Ancient mitochondrial DNA evidence from Xaltocan, Mexico. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, v.149 no.4 pp.504-516
Abstract
In AD 1428, the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan formed the Triple Alliance, laying the foundations of the Aztec empire. Although it is well documented that the Aztecs annexed numerous polities in the Basin of Mexico over the following years, the demographic consequences of this expansion remain unclear. At the city-state capital of Xaltocan, 16th century documents suggest that the site's conquest and subsequent incorporation into the Aztec empire led to a replacement of the original Otomi population, whereas archaeological evidence suggests that some of the original population may have remained at the town under Aztec rule. To help address questions about Xaltocan's demographic history during this period, we analyzed ancient DNA from 25 individuals recovered from three houses rebuilt over time and occupied between AD 1240 and 1521. These individuals were divided into two temporal groups that predate and postdate the site's conquest. We determined the mitochondrial DNA haplogroup of each individual and identified haplotypes based on 372 base pair sequences of first hypervariable region. Our results indicate that the residents of these houses before and after the Aztec conquest have distinct haplotypes that are not closely related, and the mitochondrial compositions of the temporal groups are statistically different. Altogether, these results suggest that the matrilines present in the households were replaced following the Aztec conquest. This study therefore indicates that the Aztec expansion may have been associated with significant demographic and genetic changes within Xaltocan.
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Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
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Book Title
Series
American Journal of Physical Anthropology;v.149 no.4
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Archival Collection
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ISSN
0002-9483