Phylogeographic analysis of the Bantu language expansion supports a rainforest route

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences • Vol/Iss. 119(32) • National Academy of Sciences • • Published In • Pages: e2112853119 •
By Koile, Ezequiel, Greenhill, Simon J. , Blasi, Damián E., Gray, Russell D.

Abstract

How and when did Bantu populations expand through sub-Saharan Africa? Using phylogeographic analyses, the authors test four main hypotheses which aim to explain the route that the Bantu took as well as the date of expansion. The results suggest that Bantu populations migrated through the Central African rainforest around 4,400 years ago.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Cognate-coded basic vocabulary dataset from Grollemund et al.Other researchersA large dataset of cognate-coded basic vocabulary from 419 Bantu and related Bantoid languages.

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
The Bantu migrated through the Central African rainforest around 4,000 years ago.Supported
The Bantu split early on north of the rainforest.Not Supported
The Bantu migrated through the Sangha River Interval corridor around 2,500 years ago.Not Supported
The Bantu migrated through a coastal route around 4,000 years ago.Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: isanaraja