title: Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Yayoi period human skeletal remains from the Doigahama site.
abstract: We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA extracted from 14 human skeletal remains from the Doigahama site in Japan to clarify the genetic structure of the Doigahama Yayoi population and the relationship between burial style and kinship among individuals. The sequence types obtained in this study were compared with those of the modern Japanese, northern Kyushu Yayoi and ancient Chinese populations. We found that the northern Kyushu Yayoi populations belonged to the groups that include most of the modern Japanese population. In contrast, most of the Doigahama Yayoi population belonged to the group that includes a small number of the modern Japanese population. These results suggest that the Doigahama Yayoi population might have contributed less to the formation of the modern Japanese population than the northern Kyushu Yayoi populations. Moreover, when we examined the kinship between individuals in the Doigahama site, we found that the vicinal burial of adult skeletons indicated a maternal kinship, although that of juvenile skeletons did not. The vicinal burial style might have been influenced by many factors, such as paternal lineages, periods and geographical regions, as well as maternal lineages. In addition, skeletons considered to be those of shamans or leaders had the same sequence types. Their crucial social roles may have been inherited through maternal lineage.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Basic Medical Science, Department of Oral Anatomy and Dental Anthropology, Course of Medical and Dental Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Igawa
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: Joichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oyamada
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Katsutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikematsu
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakasono
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rokutanda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D055699:Cemeteries; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial