Scientists at the Institute for Paleogenomics have completed the first large-scale genomic study of 8,000-year-old skeletal remains from the Dogon Plateau region. The analysis, appearing in the Journal of Anthropological Genetics, identifies the earliest known genetic signature for resistance to endemic West African pathogens, specifically variants linked to innate immunity against vector-borne tropical diseases.
The study reveals a unique "ghost lineage" that inhabited the region during the "Green Sahara" period, providing evidence of early human adaptation to shifting climatic zones. These findings rewrite the migratory history of the Sahel, suggesting that these ancient populations maintained high genetic diversity and complex social networks long before the rise of known regional empires.