#3437. An ethical crisis in ancient DNA research: Insights from the Chaco Canyon controversy as a case study

October 2026publication date
Proposal available till 24-05-2025
4 total number of authors per manuscript0 $

The title of the journal is available only for the authors who have already paid for
Journal’s subject area:
Archeology;
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous);
Places in the authors’ list:
place 1place 2place 3place 4
FreeFreeFreeFree
2510 $1340 $1170 $1000 $
Contract №3437.1 Contract №3437.2 Contract №3437.3 Contract №3437.4
1 place - free (for sale)
2 place - free (for sale)
3 place - free (for sale)
4 place - free (for sale)

Abstract:
In recent years, the field of paleogenomics has grown into an exciting and rapidly advancing area of scientific inquiry. However, scientific work in this field has far outpaced the discipline’s dialogue about research ethics. In particular, Indigenous peoples have argued that the paleogenomics revolution has produced a “vampire science” that perpetuates biocolonialist traditions of extracting Indigenous bodies and heritage without the consent of, or benefits to, the communities who are most affected by this research. By providing a “thick description” of this controversy, we are able to analyze its metanarratives, periodization, path dependency, and historical contingencies. The paleogenomics revolution needs to include an ethical revolution that remakes the field’s values, relationships, forms of accountability, and practices.
Keywords:
Ancestral Pueblo; Ancient DNA; cultural affiliation; ethics

Contacts :
0