RT Journal Article
T1 Interdisciplinary approach to the demography of Jamaica
A1 Deason, Michael L.
A1 Salas Ellacuriaga, Antonio
A1 Newman, Simon P.
A1 Macaulay, Vicent A.
A1 Morrison, Errol Y st A.
A1 Pitsiladis, Yannis P.
K1 African Coast
K1 Slave Trade
K1 Gold Coast
K1 Admixture Analysis
K1 Admixture Coefficient
AB BackgroundThe trans-Atlantic slave trade dramatically changed the demographic makeup of the New World, with varying regions of the African coast exploited differently over roughly a 400 year period. When compared to the discrete mitochondrial haplotype distribution of historically appropriate source populations, the unique distribution within a specific source population can prove insightful in estimating the contribution of each population. Here, we analyzed the first hypervariable region of mitochondrial DNA in a sample from the Caribbean island of Jamaica and compared it to aggregated populations in Africa divided according to historiographically defined segments of the continent's coastline. The results from these admixture procedures were then compared to the wealth of historic knowledge surrounding the disembarkation of Africans on the island.ResultsIn line with previous findings, the matriline of Jamaica is almost entirely of West African descent. Results from the admixture analyses suggest modern Jamaicans share a closer affinity with groups from the Gold Coast and Bight of Benin despite high mortality, low fecundity, and waning regional importation. The slaves from the Bight of Biafra and West-central Africa were imported in great numbers; however, the results suggest a deficit in expected maternal contribution from those regions.ConclusionsWhen considering the demographic pressures imposed by chattel slavery on Jamaica during the slave era, the results seem incongruous. Ethnolinguistic and ethnographic evidence, however, may explain the apparent non-random levels of genetic perseverance. The application of genetics may prove useful in answering difficult demographic questions left by historically voiceless groups.
PB BMC
SN 1471-2148
YR 2012
FD 2012
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/23006
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/23006
LA eng
NO Deason, M.L., Salas, A., Newman, S.P. et al. Interdisciplinary approach to the demography of Jamaica. BMC Evol Biol 12, 24 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-24
NO The European project “A European Initial Training Network on the history, archaeology, and new genetics of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade (EUROTAST)” (EU project: 290344) partially supported the research activity of A.S.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026