Article: At 400,000 Years, Oldest Human DNA Yet Found Raises New Mysteries

At 400,000 Years, Oldest Human DNA Yet Found Raises New Mysteries
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/science/at-400000-years-oldest-human-dna-yet-found-raises-new-mysteries.html

2013 was packed with many new genetic findings shedding light on human prehistory.  The more studies that come out, the greater the complexity that is emerging.  For example, the genes of this person from 400,000 years ago in Spain were expected to be similar to Neanderthals and likely from the population ancestral to Neanderthals.  Lo and behold, the genome is more similar to the mysterious Denisovans who have thus far only been found in western Asia.  It may well be this person belonged to a population ancestral to both Denisovans and Neanderthals.

Article: When hunter met farmer in prehistoric Poland

When hunter met farmer in prehistoric Poland
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/11/when-hunter-met-farmer-in-prehistoric.html

Article: More on the Y Chromosome and Mal'ta Boy

A priori Y chromosome phylogeny from sequencing data
http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-priori-y-chromosome-phylogeny-from.html

Article: The Mysterious New Northern Eurasians

Oldest human genome reveals roots of first Americans
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24616-oldest-human-genome-reveals-roots-of-first-americans.html

This Mal'ta Boy (as he is called in other articles) represents the oldest human genome sequenced to date.  His genes held at least one surprise:  his Y chromosome from his father's line is now found more among western Europeans.  His entire genome is closely related to modern Native Americans -but NOT to east Asians.  Native Americans are thought to have migrated from eastern Siberia across Berengia and into the Americas.  Native American genetics DO have east Asian genes.  So, how could this boy be from a Native American ancestral AND have no east Asian genes?  Well, it appears there once was an ancient northern Eurasian population hunting on the Ice Age steppes that spanned from Europe to Siberia.  This group contributed genes to modern Europeans in the west.  In the east, later generations of the Mal'ta Boy's people intermixed with east Asians, and later some of this new, hybrid group emigrated to the Americas.  Or, so the latest theory drawing on this work hypothesizes.

Article: Modern Humans Carry DNA from Neanderthal Viruses

Neanderthal virus DNA spotted hiding in modern humans
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24598-neanderthal-virus-dna-spotted-hiding-in-modern-humans.html

Article: Did Copper Traders from Portugal Conquer/Settle Early Bronze Age Europe?

A post-EBA genetic shift across Central and Eastern Europe
http://eurogenes.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-post-eba-genetic-shift-across-central.html

Article: An Introduction to the Neolithic Linearbandkeramik Culture

An Introduction to the Neolithic Linearbandkeramik Culture
http://thesebonesofmine.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/an-introduction-to-the-neolithic-linearbandkeramik-culture/