The formation of human populations in South and Central Asia
Формирование человеческих популяций в Южной и Центральной Азии
2019-09-05
SCID: 54.1/m9stgt3f
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Indus Valley Civilization admixtureIranian and Southeast Asian hunter-gatherer ancestry gradientSouth Asian population formationSteppe pastoralist ancestry (Bronze Age)ancient DNA sequencing
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Abstract (AI)
By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asians is a prehistoric genetic gradient between people related to early hunter-gatherers of Iran and Southeast Asia. After the Indus Valley Civilization's decline, its people mixed with individuals in the southeast to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, whose direct descendants live in southern India. Simultaneously, they mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who, starting around 4000 years ago, spread via Central Asia to form the other main ancestral population. The Steppe ancestry in South Asia has the same profile as that in Bronze Age Eastern Europe, tracking a movement of people that affected both regions and that likely spread the distinctive features shared between Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages.
Key Findings
1
After the Indus Valley Civilization's decline, its people mixed with southeastern individuals to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, with direct descendants in southern India.
2
Sequencing of 523 ancient humans reveals modern South Asians primarily derive from a prehistoric genetic gradient between populations related to Iranian hunter-gatherers and Southeast Asian groups.
3
Simultaneously, Indus-related populations mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who spread via Central Asia starting around 4000 years ago, forming the other main ancestral South Asian population.
4
Steppe-related ancestry in South Asia matches the profile of Bronze Age Eastern European Steppe ancestry, indicating a linked movement of people affecting both regions.
5
The spread of Steppe ancestry likely contributed to shared features between Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages through this prehistoric migration.
Research Object
Ancient and modern human populations of South and Central Asia (including sequenced 523 ancient humans)
Research Subject
Formation and admixture history of South Asian ancestry, specifically the prehistoric gradient between Iran-related and Southeast Asian-related groups, post-Indus Valley mixing forming a southern-Indian-descendant ancestral population, and incoming Steppe pastoralist admixture spreading via Central Asia about 4000 years ago
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2019-09-05
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