Ancient genomic time transect from the Central Asian Steppe unravels the history of the Scythians
Guido Alberto Gnecchi‐RusconeDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyElmira KhussainovaLaboratory of Population Genetics, Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, 050060, al-Farabi Ave., 93 Almaty, KazakhstanNurzhibek KahbatkyzyKazakh National University by al-Farabi, 050040, al-Farabi Ave., 71 Almaty, KazakhstanLyazzat MusralinaDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyMaria A. SpyrouDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyRaffaela A. BiancoDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyRita RadzevičiūtėDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyNuno Filipe Gomes MartinsDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyCäcilia FreundDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyOlzhas IksanKazakh National University by al-Farabi, 050040, al-Farabi Ave., 71 Almaty, KazakhstanAlexander GarshinLaboratory of Population Genetics, Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, 050060, al-Farabi Ave., 93 Almaty, KazakhstanZhassulan ZhaniyazovLaboratory of Population Genetics, Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, 050060, al-Farabi Ave., 93 Almaty, KazakhstanBakhytzhan BekmanovKazakh National University by al-Farabi, 050040, al-Farabi Ave., 71 Almaty, KazakhstanЕgor KitovCenter of Human Ecology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russian FederationЗайнолла СамашевBranch of Institute of Archaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 010011, Republic Ave., 24, of. 511, Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanA. BeisenovInstitute of Arсhaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 050010, Dostyk Ave., 44 Almaty, KazakhstanNatalia BerezinaResearch Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Mokhovaya Str. 11, Moscow 125009, Russian FederationYakov B. BerezinResearch Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Mokhovaya Str. 11, Moscow 125009, Russian FederationAndrás BíróDepartment of Anthropology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Ludovika tér 2-6, Budapest H-1083, HungarySándor ÉvingerDepartment of Anthropology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Ludovika tér 2-6, Budapest H-1083, HungaryArman A. BissembaevBranch of Institute of Archaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 010011, Republic Ave., 24, of. 511, Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanGaziz AkhatovInstitute of Arсhaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 050010, Dostyk Ave., 44 Almaty, KazakhstanAslan M. MamedovAktobe Regional Historical Museum, Oraza Tateuly Ave. 3, Batys-2 microdistrict, Astana district, Aktobe 030000, KazakhstanAkhan OnggarulyScientific-Research Institute “Halyq qazynasy,” National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Tauelsizdik Ave. 54, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanDmitriy VoyakinInstitute of Arсhaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 050010, Dostyk Ave., 44 Almaty, KazakhstanAidos ChotbayevInstitute of Arсhaeology by A.Kh. Margulan, 050010, Dostyk Ave., 44 Almaty, KazakhstanYeldos KariyevScientific Center “Altaytanu” of East-Kazakhstan State University by S.A. Amanzholov, Kazakhstan Str. 55, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070004, KazakhstanAlexandra BuzhilovaResearch Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Mokhovaya Str. 11, Moscow 125009, Russian FederationLeyla DjansugurovaLaboratory of Population Genetics, Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, 050060, al-Farabi Ave., 93 Almaty, KazakhstanChoongwon JeongDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, GermanyJohannes KrauseDepartment of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Abstract
The Scythians were a multitude of horse-warrior nomad cultures dwelling in the Eurasian steppe during the first millennium BCE. Because of the lack of first-hand written records, little is known about the origins and relations among the different cultures. To address these questions, we produced genome-wide data for 111 ancient individuals retrieved from 39 archaeological sites from the first millennia BCE and CE across the Central Asian Steppe. We uncovered major admixture events in the Late Bronze Age forming the genetic substratum for two main Iron Age gene-pools emerging around the Altai and the Urals respectively. Their demise was mirrored by new genetic turnovers, linked to the spread of the eastern nomad empires in the first centuries CE. Compared to the high genetic heterogeneity of the past, the homogenization of the present-day Kazakhs gene pool is notable, likely a result of 400 years of strict exogamous social rules.
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