Abstract
Recent methodological advances have increased the pace and scale of African ancient DNA (aDNA) research, inciting a rush to sample broadly from museum collections, and raising ethical concerns over the destruction of human remains. In the absence of discipline-wide protocols, teams are often left to navigate aDNA sampling on an individual basis, contributing to widely varying practices that do not always protect the long-term integrity of collections. As those on the frontline, archaeologists and curators must create and adhere to best practices. We review ethical issues particular to African aDNA contexts and suggest protocols with the aim of initiating public discussion.
Highlights
In recent years, the pace of human ancient DNA research in Africa has accelerated, from studies of single individuals to analyses of larger groups with wider analytical scope (Morris et al 2014; Gallego Llorente et al 2015; Rodríguez-Varela et al 2017; Schlebusch et al 2017; Schuenemann et al 2017; Skoglund et al 2017)
Archaeogenetics in Africa—a continent previously ignored by the ‘Genomics Revolution’ in living populations (Nordling 2017)—has been slow to develop, due in part to notoriously poor ancient DNA (aDNA) preservation in warm, tropical climates
Archaeologists and curators are the ‘boots on the ground’ in this aDNA revolution, as they work with collections and make the most difficult decision of all: when is it acceptable to destroy human remains? Here we examine this question, alongside ethical issues relating to African biomolecular research, with the goal of creating a more formal and public dialogue than the private discussions currently taking place via emails and across dining tables
Summary
The pace of human ancient DNA (aDNA) research in Africa has accelerated, from studies of single individuals to analyses of larger groups with wider analytical scope (Morris et al 2014; Gallego Llorente et al 2015; Rodríguez-Varela et al 2017; Schlebusch et al 2017; Schuenemann et al 2017; Skoglund et al 2017). We examine this question, alongside ethical issues relating to African biomolecular research, with the goal of creating a more formal and public dialogue than the private discussions currently taking place via emails and across dining tables While documents such as the Vermillion Accord (WAC 1989) outline the ethical treatment of human remains, tailoring these ideals to diverse research contexts is complex. We aim to stimulate exchanges amongst multiple stakeholders: curators, archaeologists and geneticists, and descendant communities and the broader public, who do not always have a voice in the scramble for African human remains We hope such discussion will lead to the development of a professional code of ethics for African aDNA research. Regional dialogues on aDNA work may stimulate broader anthropological discussions regarding the treatment of archaeological human remains
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