Genetic analysis offers new way to reveal relationships, help restore ancestral histories

• DNA analysis of African Americans buried at an early U.S. iron forge reveals locations of their African and European ancestors and finds more than 40,000 living U.S. relatives.
• The study — led by Harvard University, the Smithsonian Institution, and 23andMe — is the first to link up ancient DNA technology with a personal ancestry testing database and use a new method for determining genetic relationships.
• The work, which followed rigorous ethical guidelines, was inspired by groups seeking to restore ancestry knowledge to African American communities.