Dr. Olivera to Participate in the First Meeting on Ancient Biomolecules in Latin America
Lima, Peru, will host the first Meeting on Ancient Biomolecules in Latin America from November 4 to 6, 2026, as part of the Regional Meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE). The event will take place at the “Pedro Zulen” Central Library, located on the university campus of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM). It will bring together researchers interested in reconstructing the history of human populations, domesticated species, and pathogens through the analysis of ancient DNA, proteins, and other biomolecules.
Latin America’s rich biodiversity and archaeological heritage offer significant opportunities to investigate the peopling of the Americas, early domestication processes, cultural practices, and the genetic effects of European colonization. In this context, the meeting aims to strengthen scientific capacity across the region, promote the leadership of Latin American researchers, and foster international collaboration networks, helping to address disparities in training and scientific infrastructure. It also seeks to advance independent research that respects cultural heritage and is grounded in Latin America’s social and ecological contexts.
As part of the program, on November 4, Dr. Quirino Olivera, President of ASICAMPE, will participate in a roundtable discussion on the ethical aspects of ancient biomolecule research, alongside speakers María Ávila Arcos, Emily Ruiz Puerta, Frank Guzmán, and Constanza de la Fuente Castro. The following day, November 5, he will deliver a keynote lecture entitled “Marañón Culture: Archaeology of Early Cacao Symbolism in the Upper Peruvian Amazon.”
Students, researchers, and members of the public interested in archaeology, biology, genomics, and other disciplines are warmly invited to attend this meeting, which will promote knowledge exchange and foster new scientific collaborations throughout the region.
This important international gathering will take place just two weeks after Dr. Quirino Olivera delivered a keynote lecture on Marañón Culture, organized by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research at the Catholic University of Trujillo. The event was attended by Monsignor Alfredo Vizcarra Mori, Grand Chancellor of the university, whose presence was particularly meaningful given the profound impact he has had on the communities of Jaén and the northeastern Peruvian Amazon throughout his pastoral mission. His participation underscored the importance of dialogue between archaeological research, history, and the cultural heritage of Amazonian communities, helping to highlight the significance of Marañón Culture and the earliest evidence of cacao-related symbolism in this region of Peru.
Dr. Quirino Olivera expressed his sincere gratitude to Dr. Gina Zavaleta Espejo, Vice-Rector for Research at the Catholic University of Trujillo, for promoting this academic initiative, as well as to Dr. Florencia Bracamonte for her valuable contribution to making this significant event possible.
These lectures reaffirm the importance of promoting research and outreach initiatives that deepen our understanding of ancient Amazonian cultures and their enduring legacy in Peru’s cultural identity.
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