Ancient DNA: a direct window into the human past

Abstract

The origin and history of our species have for long captured our imagination and guided philosophical and scientific inquiry alike. Traditionally, the study of the human past was a central theme of various disciplines across the humanities, in particular history, archaeology, anthropology, or linguistics. These disciplines mostly focus on understanding the roots and cultural evolution of contemporary human populations, including the plethora of religions, ethnicities, behaviours, and languages that characterize the diversity of human life on the planet.