DNA from Uttarakhand lake sediments pushes back human arrival in Himalayas

Scientists extracted ancient DNA from sediment cores taken from a high‑altitude lake in Uttarakhand. The genetic material matched modern humans and was radiocarbon‑dated to more than 30,000 years ago, pushing back the earliest known human presence in the Himalayas by at least a decade. Earlier studies had suggested a human arrival around 20,000 years ago, based on stone tool evidence. The new findings imply that early humans may have migrated into the mountainous region via lower‑lying corridors earlier than previously thought. Researchers plan to extend the study to other Himalayan lakes to refine the timeline of human dispersal in the area.