Journal article
Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania
Cell, Vol.Advanced access
14-Aug-2026
PMID: 42600611
Abstract
The settlement of western Remote Oceania involved interactions among deeply divergent populations. Initial settlement ∼3,000 years ago by Lapita-associated, Southeast Asian-related groups was followed by Papuan-related expansions and later sea voyages from Polynesia. We present genome-wide data spanning the past three millennia from the eastern Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga. We find that the Papuan-related expansion proceeded at a slower pace than the earlier Lapita-associated expansion and reached Fiji through at least two distinct human dispersals, centuries earlier than previously suggested. We provide direct evidence of Polynesian-related gene flow at around 1,000 years ago, giving rise to Polynesian Outlier communities in southern Vanuatu. Finally, we examine an early Fijian community, revealing social practices that preserved wealth/status within a biological kin group with elevated Southeast Asian-related ancestry. Our findings refine the settlement model of western Remote Oceania and highlight the complex interplay of past migrations and community structure.
Details
- Title
- Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania
- Authors
- Michal Feldman (Corresponding Author) - University of TübingenLara R Arauna (Author) - University of TübingenSelina Carlhoff (Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyKathrin Naegle (Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyRita Radzeviciute (Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyDorothée G Drucker (Author) - University of TübingenClaudine Stirling (Author) - University of OtagoDavid Barr (Author) - University of OtagoMalcolm Reid (Author) - University of OtagoPatrick D Nunn - University of the Sunshine CoastElia Nakoro - Fiji MuseumLaurence Kiko (Author) - Solomon Islands National MuseumMartin Gibbs (Author) - University of New EnglandRobert B Rechtman (Author) - ASM Affiliates (United States)James Flexner (Author) - The University of SydneyWanda Zinger (Author) - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelleEdson Willie (Author) - Vanuatu Cultural CentreRichard Shing (Author) - Vanuatu Cultural CentreJulia Gresky (Author) - Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, ZentraleJohannes Moser (Author) - Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Kommission für Archäologie Außereuropäischer KulturenJulia Gresky - Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Eurasien-AbteilungStuart Bedford - University of CanberraGeoffrey Clark (Author) - Australian National UniversityDavid V Burley (Author) - Simon Fraser UniversityHallie R Buckley (Author) - University of OtagoRebecca L Kinaston (Author) - University of OtagoFrédérique Valentin (Author) - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueAdam Powell (Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyJohannes Krause (Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyCosimo Posth (Corresponding Author) - University of Tübingen
- Publication details
- Cell, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Cell Press
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cell.2026.07.044
- ISSN
- 1097-4172
- PMID
- 42600611
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- The mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of the analyzed individuals in this study have been deposited at the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) un der study accession number ENA: PRJEB102472 and are publicly available as of the date of publication. All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the supplemental information.
- Grant note
- This study was funded by the European Research Council (ERC starting grant ‘‘WAVES’’ #ERC758967 to A.P.) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemein schaft (DFG, grant no. 547362354 to M.F.). L.R.A. was funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (project 101064384).
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991250406502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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