🇨🇱 A distinct Chonos ancestry in Patagonia

Ancient genomes from the Chonos Archipelago reveal a unique Indigenous ancestry within the wider Patagonian family — closest to Kawésqar to the south and showing no European admixture.

Within the archipelago there’s a north–south split: southern Chonos align more with Kawésqar, while northern Chonos show extra affinity to Huilliche (Chiloé), marking a contact zone between Patagonia and central-Chile lineages.

The genetic picture fits a sea-faring network where knowledge and people moved along the channels, yet the Chonos remained a recognizable lineage over many centuries.

Takeaway: The Chono were maritime Patagonians with their own ancestry — bridging Kawésqar to the south and Huilliche to the north.

Source: Davidson et al., 2025. Palaeogenomics reveals 1,500 years of population history of the peoples of the Chonos Archipelago, Chile.