An Admixture Approach to Trihybrid Ancestry Variation in the Philippines with Implications for Forensic Anthropology

In this study, we investigated, for the fijirst time from a forensic anthropological perspective, question of mixed ancestry estimation modern Filipinos with geographic origins in Philippines. We derived estimates continental using craniometrics four sources: new documented collection current signifijicance Manila North Cemetery; Howells cranial series representing sample unclaimed individuals but said largely to originate more remote areas, dates death before 1940; Hanihara aggregated various locations and periods across Philippines; capturing local indigenous, ethnic groups that are together identifijied as Philippine Negrito. Parental were selected data set recently collected samples Europe Asia. Using unsupervised clustering, investigated algorithmically defijined three-cluster, or trihybrid admixture, model infer each individual, reporting their relative proportions Asian, European, African admixture. used similar clustering procedures identify complex models, larger number clusters, explore patterns afffijinity between our acquired Vietnam, Thailand, China (Hong Kong), Japan, Korea. These analyses give insight into relationships both macro- microgeographic regions, revealing at country level how diffferent population dynamics—whether political, economic, historical, and/or social—structure ancestral makeup Asian peoples, especially degree European From these estimates, found origin explains 38–51% variation component, detected signifijicant diffferences among quantities ancestry. appear considerably admixed, they carry almost 20% less than average quantity (90%) estimated other groups. also revealed substructure within representation Filipinos, such three-way admixture exist samples; cemetery had highest ancestry, and, might expect, Negrito greatest performed additional introduced Australo-Melanesian series, fully investigate relationship better understand contributions common Negritos especially, well Southeast Asians Spanish Portuguese By mapping cluster on global scale, reveal that, just genetic loci, informative history Asia, suggest vestiges migration, trade, colonialism, recent isolation, marginalization, occupation.