https://phys.org/news/2021-03-ancient-genomes-decline-scythians.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Technology * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * * share this! * 7.1K * 68 * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Other Sciences 3. Archaeology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 26, 2021 Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians by Max Planck Society Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians Mound 4 of the Eleke Sazy necropolis in eastern Kazakhstan. Credit: Zainolla Samashev Generally thought of as fierce horse warriors, the Scythians were a multitude of Iron Age cultures who ruled the Eurasian steppe, playing a major role in Eurasian history. A new study published in Science Advances analyzes genome-wide data for 111 ancient individuals spanning the Central Asian Steppe from the first millennia BCE and CE. The results reveal new insights into the genetic events associated with the origins, development and decline of the steppe's legendary Scythians. Because of their interactions and conflicts with the major contemporaneous civilizations of Eurasia, the Scythians enjoy a legendary status in historiography and popular culture. The Scythians had major influences on the cultures of their powerful neighbors, spreading new technologies such as saddles and other improvements for horse riding. The ancient Greek, Roman, Persian and Chinese empires all left a multitude of sources describing, from their perspectives, the customs and practices of the feared horse warriors that came from the interior lands of Eurasia. Still, despite evidence from external sources, little is known about Scythian history. Without a written language or direct sources, the language or languages they spoke, where they came from and the extent to which the various cultures spread across such a huge area were in fact related to one another, remain unclear. The Iron Age transition and the formation of the genetic profile of the Scythians A new study published in Science Advances by an international team of geneticists, anthropologists and archeologists lead by scientists from the Archaeogenetics Department of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, helps illuminate the history of the Scythians with 111 ancient genomes from key Scythian and non-Scythian archaeological cultures of the Central Asian steppe. The results of this study reveal that substantial genetic turnovers were associated with the decline of the long-lasting Bronze Age sedentary groups and the rise of Scythian nomad cultures in the Iron Age. Their findings show that, following the relatively homogenous ancestry of the late Bronze Age herders, at the turn of the first millennium BCE, influxes from the east, west and south into the steppe formed new admixed gene pools. Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians The burial of a social elite known as 'Golden Man' from the Eleke Sazy necropolis. Credit: Zainolla Samashev The diverse peoples of the Central Asian Steppe The study goes even further, identifying at least two main sources of origin for the nomadic Iron Age groups. An eastern source likely originated from populations in the Altai Mountains that, during the course of the Iron Age, spread west and south, admixing as they moved. These genetic results match with the timing and locations found in the archeological record and suggest an expansion of populations from the Altai area, where the earliest Scythian burials are found, connecting different renowned cultures such as the Saka, the Tasmola and the Pazyryk found in southern, central and eastern Kazakhstan respectively. Surprisingly, the groups located in the western Ural Mountains descend from a second separate, but simultaneous source. Contrary to the eastern case, this western gene pool, characteristic of the early Sauromatian-Sarmatian cultures, remained largely consistent through the westward spread of the Sarmatian cultures from the Urals into the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians An aerial view of Hun-Xianbi culture burials. Both horses and warriors can be identified. Credit: Zainolla Samashev The decline of the Scythian cultures associated with new genetic turnovers [INS::INS] The study also covers the transition period after the Iron Age, revealing new genetic turnovers and admixture events. These events intensified at the turn of the first millennium CE, concurrent with the decline and then disappearance of the Scythian cultures in the Central Steppe. In this case, the new far eastern Eurasian influx is plausibly associated with the spread of the nomad empires of the Eastern steppe in the first centuries CE, such as the Xiongnu and Xianbei confederations, as well as minor influxes from Iranian sources likely linked to the expansion of Persian-related civilization from the south. Although many of the open questions on the history of the Scythians cannot be solved by ancient DNA alone, this study demonstrates how much the populations of Eurasia have changed and intermixed through time. Future studies should continue to explore the dynamics of these trans-Eurasian connections by covering different periods and geographic regions, revealing the history of connections between west, central and east Eurasia in the remote past and their genetic legacy in present day Eurasian populations. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Broad genetic variation on the Pontic-Caspian Steppe --------------------------------------------------------------------- More information: "Ancient genomic time-transect from the Central Asian Steppe unravels the history of the Scythians" Science Advances (2021). advances.sciencemag.org/lookup ... .1126/sciadv.abe4414 Journal information: Science Advances Provided by Max Planck Society Citation: Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians (2021, March 26) retrieved 28 March 2021 from https:// phys.org/news/2021-03-ancient-genomes-decline-scythians.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. 7147 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular A bio-inspired mechano-photonic artificial synapse Mar 26, 2021 1 Huge uptick in lightning over the Arctic in past decade, research shows Mar 26, 2021 39 New theory suggests large blobs of material in Earth's mantle are remnants of protoplanet Theia Mar 26, 2021 1 On-chip torsion balance with femtonewton force resolution at room temperature Mar 25, 2021 1 Honeybees find their queen by carrying out a cascade of scenting behaviors Mar 24, 2021 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Cities worldwide dim lights to mark Earth Hour Mar 27, 2021 [gif] Oil and natural gas production emit more methane than previously thought Mar 26, 2021 [gif] Uranium compound achieves record anomalous Nernst conductivity Mar 26, 2021 [gif] Controlling bubble formation on electrodes Mar 26, 2021 [gif] Functional consequences of global biodiversity loss guide future nature conservation Mar 26, 2021 [gif] Protein dynamics research breakthrough could result in new cancer treatments Mar 26, 2021 [gif] NASA analysis: Earth is safe from asteroid Apophis for 100-plus years Mar 26, 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Relevant PhysicsForums posts Super-cold thunderstorm (-111degC)! 2 hours ago Iceland earthquakes, 18000 in a week! Significance? Mar 26, 2021 Why is the CO2 level lower in my house than outside? Mar 26, 2021 Mw 7.0 NE Honshu, Japan NOW Mar 20, 2021 A question about the parameters/constants entering climate models Mar 19, 2021 USGS Cautions: Prepare NOW for Non-Imminent Eruption of Mauna Loa Mar 18, 2021 More from Earth Sciences --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Related Stories [gif] Broad genetic variation on the Pontic-Caspian Steppe Oct 05, 2018 [gif] Population dynamics and the rise of empires in Inner Asia Nov 05, 2020 [gif] Scythian people weren't just nomadic warriors, but sometimes settled down Mar 10, 2021 [gif] Horse-riding changed Eurasia's ethnic profile: studies May 09, 2018 Where did the Scythians come from? Mar 07, 2017 [gif] Genomic insights into the origin of pre-historic populations in East Asia Feb 22, 2021 * Recommended for you [gif] Ancient oral biome points to overall health Mar 26, 2021 [gif] Ancient Maya houses show wealth inequality is tied to despotic governance Mar 24, 2021 [gif] Lawyers used sheepskin as anti-fraud device for hundreds of years to stop fraudsters pulling the woo Mar 24, 2021 [gif] Bronze Age mining sites received deliveries of pre-processed foods Mar 24, 2021 [gif] The world's earliest stone technologies are likely to be older than previously thought Mar 24, 2021 [gif] For ancient farmers facing climate change, more grazing meant more resilience Mar 23, 2021 User comments What do you think about this particular story? Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Your opinions are important to us. We do not guarantee individual replies due to extremely high volume of correspondence. E-mail the story Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Sponsored Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2021 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use Your Privacy This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Ok More Information E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast