What is "archaeogenetics"

n. (context archaeology genetics English) The application of population genetics to archaeology

Archaeogenetics, a term coined by British archaeologist and paleolinguist Colin Renfrew, refers to the application of the techniques of molecular population genetics to the study of the human past. This can involve:

• the analysis of DNA recovered from archaeological remains, i.e. ancient DNA;
• the analysis of DNA from modern populations (including humans and domestic plant and animal species) in order to study human past and the genetic legacy of human interaction with the biosphere; and
• the application of statistical methods developed by molecular geneticists to archaeological data.