Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania
Abstract
The settlement of western Remote Oceania involved interactions among deeply divergent populations. Initial settlement ∼3,000 years ago by Lapita-associated, Southeast Asian-related groups was followed by Papuan-related expansions and later sea voyages from Polynesia. We present genome-wide data spanning the past three millennia from the eastern Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga. We find that the Papuan-related expansion proceeded at a slower pace than the earlier Lapita-associated expansion and reached Fiji through at least two distinct human dispersals, centuries earlier than previously suggested. We provide direct evidence of Polynesian-related gene flow at around 1,000 years ago, giving rise to Polynesian Outlier communities in southern Vanuatu. Finally, we examine an early Fijian community, revealing social practices that preserved wealth/status within a biological kin group with elevated Southeast Asian-related ancestry. Our findings refine the settlement model of western Remote Oceania and highlight the complex interplay of past migrations and community structure.
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BibTeX
@article{feldman2026ancient,
title = {{Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania}},
author = {Michal Feldman and Lara Arauna and Selina Carlhoff and Kathrin Naegle and Rita Radzeviciute and Dorothée Drucker and Claudine Stirling and David Barr and Malcolm Reid and Patrick Nunn and Elia Nakoro and Laurence Kiko and Martin Gibbs and Robert Rechtman and James Flexner and Wanda Zinger and Edson Willie and Richard Shing and Takaronga Kuautonga and Johannes Moser and Julia Gresky and Stuart Bedford and Geoffrey Clark and David Burley and Hallie Buckley and Rebecca Kinaston and Frédérique Valentin and Adam Powell and Johannes Krause and Cosimo Posth},
journal = {Cell},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2026.07.044},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05731978v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania
AU - Michal Feldman
AU - Lara Arauna
AU - Selina Carlhoff
AU - Kathrin Naegle
AU - Rita Radzeviciute
AU - Dorothée Drucker
AU - Claudine Stirling
AU - David Barr
AU - Malcolm Reid
AU - Patrick Nunn
AU - Elia Nakoro
AU - Laurence Kiko
AU - Martin Gibbs
AU - Robert Rechtman
AU - James Flexner
AU - Wanda Zinger
AU - Edson Willie
AU - Richard Shing
AU - Takaronga Kuautonga
AU - Johannes Moser
AU - Julia Gresky
AU - Stuart Bedford
AU - Geoffrey Clark
AU - David Burley
AU - Hallie Buckley
AU - Rebecca Kinaston
AU - Frédérique Valentin
AU - Adam Powell
AU - Johannes Krause
AU - Cosimo Posth
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Cell
DO - 10.1016/j.cell.2026.07.044
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05731978v1
AB - The settlement of western Remote Oceania involved interactions among deeply divergent populations. Initial settlement ∼3,000 years ago by Lapita-associated, Southeast Asian-related groups was followed by Papuan-related expansions and later sea voyages from Polynesia. We present genome-wide data spanning the past three millennia from the eastern Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga. We find that the Papuan-related expansion proceeded at a slower pace than the earlier Lapita-associated expansion and reached Fiji through at least two distinct human dispersals, centuries earlier than previously suggested. We provide direct evidence of Polynesian-related gene flow at around 1,000 years ago, giving rise to Polynesian Outlier communities in southern Vanuatu. Finally, we examine an early Fijian community, revealing social practices that preserved wealth/status within a biological kin group with elevated Southeast Asian-related ancestry. Our findings refine the settlement model of western Remote Oceania and highlight the complex interplay of past migrations and community structure.
SN - 0092-8674
SN - 1097-4172
ER -