The 2025 study’s five-site approach represents one of the most ambitious ancient DNA projects ever undertaken in northern South America, and the archaeological context of each site matters for interpreting the genetic findings.

Checua, as discussed, is the Preceramic open-area site in Nemocón where the seven oldest individuals in the study were found.

The site’s elongated-skull individuals and the dental pathology observations add physical anthropological data to the genetic picture, though the physical characteristics should not be overinterpreted as evidence of a separate origin or unusual biology.

Laguna de la Herrera is the Herrera-period site from which nine individuals were analyzed.

This site is located along the margins of what was historically a lake environment on the western Bogotá savanna — a productive setting for the early agricultural communities associated with the Herrera ceramic complex.