A high-resolution paleogenomic study published in Nature Genetics has successfully sequenced the DNA of 14,000-year-old remains recovered from submerged limestone caves in the Andaman Sea. The research identifies a previously unknown Pleistocene 'Ghost' Lineage that diverged from early South Asian hunter-gatherers approximately 40,000 years ago. This group exhibits unique genetic markers associated with specialized sulfate metabolism, likely an adaptation to a diet primarily composed of high-sulfate marine gastropods endemic to the region.
The findings suggest that this population remained genetically isolated for millennia, even as surrounding regions experienced significant migration pulses. This discovery provides a critical missing link in the human colonization of the Bay of Bengal and underscores the role of local ecological niches in driving rapid genetic selection among ancient maritime forager communities.