Project description:

The project principal aim is to analyse the genetic variability of Libyan Tuaregs to uncover the origin of this semi-nomadic pastoralist northwest African people and their relationship with other African populations. For centuries the Tuaregs were caravan traders plying the trade routes between the Mediterranean coast and south-Saharan Africa. Their origins are still a matter of debate due to the scarcity of genetic and historical data even though their genesis most likely coincides with the fall of the Garamantes who inhabited the Fezzan (Libya) between the 1st millennium BC and the 5th century AD.
In particular, detailed studies have been performed on mtDNA and Y-chromosome variation and on the distribution of autosomal polymorphisms of the COL1A2, CYP1A1 and HS1,2 Ig enhancer genes in Al Awaynat and Tahala, two villages in Fezzan (Libyan Sahara).

Project References: Babalini C, Martìnez-Labarga C., Lorente J-A, Lorente M., Rickards O., 2002, Ancient DNA studies: first results. In Di Lernia S. & Manzi G. (a cura di), Sand, stones, and bones. The archaeology of death in the Wadi Tanezzuft valley. AZA Monographs, 3: pp. 267-332, All’Insegna del Giglio Firenze. Martínez-Labarga, C., Lelli, R., Tarsi, T., Babalini, C, De Angelis, F., Ottoni, C., Giambra, V., Pepe, G., Azzebi, E., Frezza, D., Biondi, G., Rickards, O. (2007). Polymorphisms of the COL1A2, CYP1A1 and HS1,2 Ig enhancer genes in the Tuaregs from Libya. Annals of Human Biology, vol. 34: 425-436. Ottoni, C., Larmuseau, M.H.D., Vanderheyden, M., Martinez-Labarga, C., Primativo, G., Biondi, G., Decorte, R., Rickards, O. (2011) Deep Into the Roots of the Libyan Tuareg: A Genetic Survey of Their Paternal Heritage. American Journal Physical Anthropology (published online, Feb 10. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.21473.) Ottoni C, Martínez-Labarga C, Loogväli EL, Pennarun E, Achilli A, De Angelis F, Trucchi E, Contini I, Biondi G, Rickards O. (2009). First genetic insight into Libyan Tuaregs: a maternal perspective. Annals of Human Genetics vol. 73: 438-48. Ottoni C, Primativo, G., Hooshiar Kashani, B., Achilli A., Martínez-Labarga C, Biondi, G., Torroni, A., Rickards O. (2010) Mitochondrial Haplogroup H1 in North Africa: An Early Holocene Arrival from Iberia. PLoS ONE 5 (10): e13378. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013378. Ricci, F., Fornai, C., Tiesler-Blos, V., Rickards, O., Di Lernia, S., Manzi, G. (2008). Evidence of cranial deformation from the later Prehistory of the Acacus Mts. (Southwestern Libya, central Sahara). International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, DOI: 10.1002/oa.946.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Savino Di Lernia (University of Roma I, La Sapienza) as a part of a multi-disciplinary study which aims to better understand the climatic, cultural and population changes during the 10,000 years of the Sahara.

This work was funded by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) under the "Programma di Ricerca scientifica di Interesse Nazionale" (PRIN 2003, prot. 2003100945_002) entitled "Nomads and sedentary people reconstruction of the genetic history of ancient and extant populations from Libya and western Sahara"