Hi everybody, from Wondery, welcome to another episode of Tides of History.

I'm Patrick Weimind, thanks for joining me.

It's not an exaggeration to say that ancient DNA has already revolutionized our understanding

of the human past.

We can ask and attempt to answer questions about ancestry, migration, and social structure

that would have been unimaginable in the last couple of decades.

But as much as this incredible new tool has already done, we're just scratching the surface

of what ancient DNA can offer.

In global perspective, it's reaches uneven.

Some areas like Europe have been extensively sampled while others have had only a few studies.

Nowhere in the world has more to offer in terms of the potential richness of the ancient

DNA and the archaeological record as Africa.

The first several studies have already given us incredible insights into Africa's past

from the origins of modern humans to population movements to the spread of farming and domesticated

animals.

Today's guest has been at the absolute forefront of this exciting new research.

Professor Mary Prendergast is associate professor of anthropology at Rice University.

She previously spent a decade as professor of anthropology at St. Louis University's

Madrid campus.

She is the author of a staggering number of papers and books chapters mostly focused on

foragers and pastoralists in East Africa and were recently on ancient DNA.

Professor Prendergast, thank you so much for joining me today.

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