This project, led by Harilanto Razafindrazaka (PhD, CR CNRS), follows a tradition of the laboratory which is the study of the genetic diversity of the populations of the Indian Ocean including the Comoros and Madagascar. Having developed an expertise on the current populations of these regions, we propose to develop a fine comparative approach of the former with those of the past. Paleo genomics, which has long worked on isolated samples from the past, coming from sites distributed in time and space, generally interprets genomic variations in terms of "massive" migrations. Modelling shows that migration rates much lower than those suggested could be explained by many other microevolutionary factors. This project proposes to take a closer look at the functioning of past burials, thus making it possible to go back to the "world of the living" by specifying the influence of the type of residence and choice of spouse on microevolution. We will thus study, in Madagascar, the recruitment of ancient tombs from societies where we know the matrimonial rules as well as the theoretical social organization.
Within the unit, this project will be the object of an inter-team collaboration (BONES team) around the archaeological contextualization and the expertise of the transversal project "Paleomicrobiology - pathogens of past populations"
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In addition, this work benefits from a long-standing international collaboration with the Institute of Civilization, Museum of Art and Archaeology (University of Antananarivo), and a national collaboration (UMR CAGT).