Ancient people living in the Andes had bodies adapted to difficult environmental conditions

Excavations at a burial site in Jiskairumoko, Peru, revealed shocking facts about the ancient Andean peoples. The research was conducted by a villager from the area and two graduate students.

The study showed that the Andes were populated shortly after entering South America. Despite the difficult living conditions in this part of the continent, people have settled there and started to form an entire population.

The ancient inhabitants had bodies adapted to environmental conditions

According to the researchers' findings, we are talking about people who lived in the Andes 7,000 years ago. Most likely, they were hunter-gatherers and established the first occupations of the Earth. The ancient inhabitants have developed an increased resistance to the environment because their bodies have undergone certain modifications.

Excavations at the burial site revealed that at that time, it required a larger heart and higher blood pressure to survive in the surrounding Andean Mountains. Further genetic badysis showed that other adaptations were needed if people wanted to survive these dangerous heights.

On the other hand, they have not yet succeeded in establishing the exact moment when the inhabitants began to adapt. Most likely, the process began shortly after their permanent establishment in the highlands. The population that lived around Lake Titicaca was badyzed with the help of the DNA of ancient and modern peoples.

The results tell even more scientists about the first civilizations. The adaptation of the environment can also be linked to the transition of mountain dwellers. They exchanged hunting and gathering with agriculture. They grew vegetables like corn and potatoes.

In addition, lowlanders did not show the above-mentioned signs of environmental adaptation. This situation can be caused by their stability – they have remained hunter-gatherers. The researchers are still studying the excavation site and will soon publish their findings.

Ben Price is a young man of about 30 years old from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who loves to share his pbadion for all things Canadian. In addition to managing his own YouTube channel, which posts weekly videos covering new technologies, he spends his time rowing. With respect to academics, Ben studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Guelph. Ben covers reporting on science and technology at Great Lakes Ledger.