|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2021 1:04:39 GMT
6. Čachovice (Čachovice, Chomutov district, NW Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact persons: Miroslav Dobeš, Petr Velemínský
The site was uncovered during a rescue excavation of Z. Smrž in front of an open-cast brown coal mine in
1980–1982. Next to the Neolithic settlement, remains of a Proto-Eneolithic or Early Eneolithic long barrow
were found, as well as cemeteries of the Corded Ware and Bell Beaker cultures. The Corded Ware cemetery
consisted of three clearly separated groups, with 59 graves and 60 inhumation burials altogether. In addition
to pottery, the graves were furnished with lithic axes, axe-hammers and clubs, whetstones, chipped industry
and even some bone and copper artefacts. According to the finds, the graves date to both the early and late
periods of the Corded Ware culture. The Bell Beaker cemetery (21 inhumation graves) belonged to the late
period of this culture; some of the graves clearly disturbed the Corded Ware grave pits. With the exception
of the Neolithic settlement, all finds from this site were published in full (132). The cemetery was analysed
for aDNA very selectively due to the poor preservation state of bones.
Grave 3. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the north-west. Sex: archaeology – M,
anthropology – M?, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus (20–40). Grave goods: beaker, amphora, stone club,
stone axe, silicite axe, chipped industry – three flakes. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture,
middle/late stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH001. NM Prague Inv. No.:
P7A 38560.
Grave 7. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east. Sex: archaeology – F, anthropology –
F, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: amphora, jug, pot, single-handled cup, twohandled cup, two copper spiral temple rings, copper beads, chipped industry – one blade, whetstone.
Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late) stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132).
Pandora No.: CAH002. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38563.
Grave 10. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the west. Sex: archaeology – M,
anthropology – M, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: maturus I (40–50). Grave goods: amphora, jug?, stone battle
axe, stone flat axe, chipped industry – two blades. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late)
stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH003. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38565.
Grave 11A. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the north-east. Sex: archaeology – F,
anthropology – M, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: amphora, jug, pot, two-handled
cup, copper spiral temple ring, copper bead. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late) stage.
Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH004. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38566.
Grave 12. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the west. Sex: archaeology – M,
anthropology – M, aDNA – M. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: amphora, jug/cup, stone battle axe,
chipped industry – blade, bone awl, boar/pig tusk. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late)
stage. Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-41377 (3917±26) 2474–2306 cal BC 2-sigma (132). Pandora No.:
CAH005. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38568.
Grave 14. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the west. Sex: archaeology – M,
anthropology – M?, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus (20–40). Grave goods: amphora, beaker, beaker with
a handle, stone club, stone flat axe, chipped industry – blade. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture,
local (late) stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH006. NM Prague Inv. No.:
P7A 38569.
Grave 24A. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east. Sex: archaeology – F, anthropology
– ?, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus (20–40). Grave goods: two amphorae, jug, pot, chipped industry –
blade, animal bones (drilled teeth?), whetstone. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late)
stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH007. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38576.
Grave 35. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the west. Sex: archaeology – M,
anthropology – M, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus II – maturus I (30–50). Grave goods: amphora, beaker
with a handle, stone battle axe, stone flat axe, chipped industry – blade and flake. Archaeological dating:
Corded Ware culture, local (late) stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH008.
NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38582.
Grave 46. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east. Sex: archaeology – F, anthropology
– F?, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adultus (20–40). Grave goods: three amphorae/jugs/pots, beaker, cylindrical
beaker, chipped industry – two blades. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, middle/late stage.
Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH009. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38590.
Grave 47. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east. Sex: archaeology – F, anthropology
– F, aDNA – F. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: amphora, jug, pot, single-handled cup, copper spiral
temple ring. Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late) stage. Radiocarbon dating: MAMS41378 (3853±27) 2457–2209 cal BC 2-sigma (132). Pandora No.: CAH010. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A
38591.
Grave 92. Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east. Sex: archaeology – F, anthropology
– ?, aDNA – no aDNA. Age: adult (over 30). Grave goods: amphora, two jugs, pot + more fragments of
more vessels, blade from stone flat axe (?). Archaeological dating: Corded Ware culture, local (late) stage.
Radiocarbon dating: not available (132). Pandora No.: CAH011. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 38556.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2021 5:52:56 GMT
7. Droužkovice (Droužkovice, Chomutov district, NW Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact person: Miroslav Dobeš
Rescue excavation above the seams of an underground brown coal mine (Z. Smrž) in 1982–1986. Three
aceramic graves of the Corded Ware culture were found here, next to the multicultural prehistoric settlement
remains (Funnel Beaker culture, Bell Beaker culture, Bronze Age, Early La Tène period). The graves
contained either no finds or chipped industry only. Due to the state of bone preservation, only the following
grave was analysed for the aDNA. The graves were published in full in (133).
Grave 20/B2. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the west-north-west. Sex: archaeology –
M, anthropology – ?, aDNA – M. Age: juvenis – adultus I (17–25). Grave goods: no finds. Archaeological
dating: Corded Ware culture, aceramic. Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-45783 (4147±23) 2872–2633 cal BC
2-sigma (133). Pandora No.: DRO001. NM Prague.
8. Holubice (Holubice, Prague-West district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact person: Miroslav Dobeš, Josef Hložek, Erika Průchová
Rescue excavation on the construction of roadways and utility lines for a new residential zone in 2008 (J.
Hložek). Within an area of roughly 0.1 ha, a multicultural site was uncovered, in which an inhumation
grave of the Únětice culture, eight cremation graves and one inhumation burial from the Late to Final
Bronze Ages, two iron furnaces and other pits from the Roman Iron Age and the inhumation graves of the
Funnel Beaker and Baden cultures (described below) were found. The Baden culture inhumation grave is
among the first of its kind in Bohemia. The graves were published in full in (134).
Grave 21. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south-east. Sex: archaeology – ?,
anthropology – F ?, aDNA – F. Age: adultus II (30–40). Grave goods: beaker. Archaeological dating:
Funnel Beaker culture, Baalberge/Siřem stage. Radiocarbon dating: CRL-15611 (4879±36) 3760–3539 cal
BC 2-sigma (134). Pandora No.: HOL001. M Roztoky.
Grave 24. Grave with two burials.
Skeleton 1 (A): left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east-north-east. Sex: archaeology – ?,
anthropology – F, aDNA – F. Age: maturus I (40–50). Grave goods: two jugs, stone flat axe, drilled antler
axe. Archaeological dating: Baden culture, classical stage. Radiocarbon dating: CRL-15612 (4486±36)
3347–3031 cal BC 2-sigma (134). Pandora No.: HOL004. M Roztoky.
Skeleton 2 (B): left-sided crouched burial, head towards the east-north-east. Sex: archaeology – ?,
anthropology – F, aDNA – F. Age: adultus II – maturus (30–55). Grave goods: see skeleton 1.
Archaeological dating: Baden culture, classical stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (134). Pandora
No.: HOL002. M Roztoky.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2021 22:42:58 GMT
9. Hostivice (Hostivice, Prague-West district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact persons: David Daněček, Jana Klementová, Miluše Dobisíková
Rescue excavation by J. Klementová and D. Daněček (Museum Roztoky) in 2007-2008. The excavated
area covers 10 ha, more than 1,300 settlement pit features and a similar number of post holes have been
found. The site was occupied during the Linear and Stroked Pottery cultures, the Funnel Beaker and Řivnáč
cultures, Hallstatt (Ha C-D1), Roman Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. More than 33 graves were also
uncovered and burials were identified in sunken settlement features from the Funnel Beaker (Baalberge
stage), Corded Ware, Bell Beaker and Knovíz cultures (B D – Ha A2), as well as from the La Tène period
(Lt B1-C). A short report was published in (135). Anthropological research was performed by M.
Dobisíková (National Museum). Four skeletons from eight graves belonging to the Bell Beaker culture
(features 688, 689, 690 and 691) were sampled for aDNA.
Grave 17 (Feature 688). Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the north. Sex: archaeology –
M, anthropology – M?, aDNA – M. Age: adultus II – maturus I (35–50). Grave goods: cup, bowl.
Archaeological dating: Bell Beaker culture, late stage. Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-30798 (3837±24)
2455–2202 cal BC 2-sigma. (Not published). Pandora No.: HOP001A, B. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 18906.
Grave 19 (Feature 689). Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south. Sex: archaeology –
F, anthropology – ?, aDNA – F. Age: adultus II – maturus I (35–50). Grave goods: three cups, bowl, pot.
Archaeological dating: Bell Beaker culture, late stage. Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-30799 (3795±25)
2294–2141 cal BC 2-sigma. (Not published). Pandora No.: HOP002A, B. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 18907.
Grave 20 (Feature 690). Skeleton: left-sided crouched burial, head towards the north. Sex: archaeology –
M, anthropology – M, aDNA – M. Age: maturus II (50–60). Grave goods: no finds. Archaeological dating:
Bell Beaker culture, late stage (?). Radiocarbon dating: not available. (Not published). Pandora No.:
HOP003A, B, C. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 18908.
Grave 22 (Feature 691). Skeleton: left-sided (!) crouched burial, head towards the south. Sex: archaeology
– atypical, anthropology – F, aDNA – F. Age: maturus (40–60). Grave goods: no finds. Archaeological
dating: Bell Beaker culture, late stage (?). Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-38921 (3826±27) 2450–2150 cal
BC 2-sigma. (Not published). Pandora No.: HOP004A, B, C. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A 18909.
10. Chleby (Nymburk district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact person: Petr Krištuf, Ondřej Švejcar, Erika Průchová, Michal Ernée
In 2016, a grave with a single burial (no. 2035) and a collective inhumation grave (no. 2036) from the early
stage of the Únětice culture were uncovered during the excavation by the University of West Bohemia in
Pilsen. Collective grave no. 2036 contained skeletal remains of at least 15 more or less complete individuals.
Grave/Skeleton 2035. Skeleton: partly disturbed, Sex: anthropology – child, aDNA – M. Age: infans (3–
5). Grave goods: two vessels. Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL008.A, B.
Únětice collective grave, feature no. 2036
Skeletons: Collective grave no. 2036 contained more or less complete skeletal remnants of at least 15
individuals. Three skeletons were found in an anatomically correct position (2038, 2039 and 2077), three
skeletons were partly disturbed and without skulls (2079-1, 2079-2 and 2080). There were also four
separately deposited skulls (2041, 2075, 2076 and 2078) and a disarticulated deposition of human bones
from other skeletons mixed with animal bones (2040). Grave goods: Five vessels, animal bones.
Archaeological dating: stage 2–3 (early and middle stages) of the Únětice culture after Moucha (112).
Skeleton 2038. Skeleton: anatomically correct position, almost completely preserved. Sex: anthropology –
M, aDNA – M. Age: adultus I (22–24). Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-40617 (3623±28) 2116–1900 cal BC
2-sigma. Pandora No.: CHL003.
Skeleton 2039. Skeleton: anatomically correct position, almost completely preserved, Sex: anthropology –
M, aDNA – M. Age: adultus I (20–30 /22–24/). Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL002.
Skeleton (skull) 2040/1. Skeleton: disarticulated, about 40% preserved, Sex: anthropology – M, aDNA – F.
Age: adultus I (20–30). Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL001.
Skeleton (skull) 2041. Skeleton: only skull without mandibula, Sex: anthropology – F, aDNA – F. Age:
maturus I (40–50). Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL007.
Skeleton (skull) 2075. Skeleton: only skull without mandibula, Sex: anthropology – M, aDNA – no aDNA.
Age: adultus I–II (24–35). Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL004.
Skeleton (skull) 2076. Skeleton: only skull without mandibula, Sex: anthropology – F, aDNA – M. Age:
senilis (over 55). Radiocarbon dating: not available. Pandora No.: CHL005.
Skeleton (skull) 2078. Skeleton: isolated skull, Sex: anthropology – child, aDNA – F. Age: infans (5–9).
Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-40618 (3591±28) 2024–1887 cal BC 2-sigma. Pandora No.: CHL006.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 7, 2021 2:14:04 GMT
11. Kněževes 1 (Prague-West district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Published in (4, 5)
Rescue excavation before the construction of a family home (O. Kytlicová, AI Prague) in 1953–1954.
Within an area of ca. 100 m2
, 12 inhumation and two bi-ritual Bell Beaker graves from the late stage of this
culture were uncovered. The graves were published in full in (136) and (137). Two of them were sampled
for aDNA (4, 5) and Sr (138).
Grave 14. Skeleton: left sided crouched burial, head towards the north. Sex: archaeology – M, anthropology
– child, aDNA – M. Age: infans. Grave goods: bowl. Archaeological dating: Bell Beaker culture, late stage.
Radiocarbon dating: Poz-84460 (3740±35 BP) 2279–2033 cal BC 2-sigma (4, 5, 136, 137). Referred to in
(5) as I5024. Master ID and/or other aDNA signs: I4145, RISE566, F0521. NM Prague Inv. No.: P7A
31168.
Grave 8. Skeleton: left sided crouched burial, head towards the north. Sex: archaeology – M, anthropology
– M, aDNA – F. Age: juvenis (17–19). Grave goods: cup, bowl. Archaeological dating: Bell Beaker culture,
late stage. Radiocarbon dating: not available (4, 5, 136, 137). Referred to in (5) as I5025. Master ID and/or
other aDNA signs: I4136, RISE567, F0523 NM. Prague Inv. No.: P7A 30766.
12. Kněževes 2 (Prague-West district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Contact persons: Lubor Smejtek, Michal Ernée
Rescue excavation by L. Smejtek (Archaia Prague) in 1998. Within an area of more than 10 ha, a total of
2,939 sunken settlement features were excavated, dating mostly (87.5%) to the Late and Final Bronze Ages.
Completely published by L. Smejtek (139, 140). A total of 23 inhumation graves and some sunken
settlement features from the early stage of the Early Bronze Age Únětice culture (140, 141) were recorded,
too. A total of seven skeletons from five graves (features 2225, 2229, 2234, 2351 and 2767) were sampled
for aDNA.
Grave 2225. Grave pit with two skeletons: A (above) and B (below, maturus, 40–60). Fragments of a
willow-leaf-type earring made of bronze/copper were found near the skull of individual A. Six vessels
belonged probably to the skeleton B. Archaeological dating: early stage of the Únětice culture (Early
Únětice stage after the periodisation of V. Moucha).
Skeleton A. Skeleton: preserved only some skull bones, some teeth and bones of one hand; original position
of the skeleton unknown, head towards the south-south-east. Sex: anthropology – ?, aDNA – F. Age:
maturus I (40–50). Grave goods: fragments of a copper/bronze earring of the willow-leaf-type. Radiocarbon
dating: MAMS-30771 (3705±24) 2195–2028 cal BC 2-sigma (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE002. ÚAPPSČ
– Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia
Grave 2229. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south. Sex: anthropology – F?, aDNA
– F. Age: juvenis (13–20). Grave goods: two vessels and one pin made of bone. Archaeological dating:
early stage of the Únětice culture (Early Únětice stage after periodisation of V. Moucha). Radiocarbon
dating: MAMS-30772 (3648±19) 2126–1949 cal BC 2-sigma (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE003. ÚAPPSČ
– Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia.
Grave 2234. Archaeological dating: early stage of the Únětice culture (Early Únětice stage after V.
Moucha).
Skeleton A. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south. Sex: anthropology – F, aDNA –
F. Age: maturus I (40–50). Grave goods: bronze earring, probably two vessels (1–2). Radiocarbon dating:
MAMS-30773 (3704±24) 2195–2027 cal BC 2-sigma (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE004. ÚAPPSČ –
Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia
Skeleton B. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south. Sex: anthropology – ?, aDNA –
F. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: three vessels (3–5). Radiocarbon dating: MAMS-38478 (3730±24)
2201–2037 cal BC 2-sigma (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE005. ÚAPPSČ – Institute of Archaeological
Heritage of Central Bohemia.
Skeleton C. Skeleton: preserved only small parts of skull and some teeth, perhaps manipulated. Sex:
anthropology – ?, aDNA – F. Age: adultus II (30–40). Grave goods: no grave goods. Radiocarbon dating:
not available (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE006. ÚAPPSČ – Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central
Bohemia.
Grave 2351. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south-east. Sex: anthropology – F,
aDNA – F. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: two vessels, including typical jug of the Proto-Únětice
culture (vessel 2). Archaeological dating: earliest stage of the Únětice culture (Proto-Únětice stage after
periodisation of V. Moucha). Radiocarbon dating: Bln-5436 (3679±34) 2193–1957 cal BC 2-sigma (140-
142). Pandora No.: KNE001. ÚAPPSČ – Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia.
Grave 2767. Skeleton: right-sided crouched burial, head towards the south-south-east. Sex: anthropology –
F, aDNA – F. Age: adultus I (20–30). Grave goods: three vessels (two dishes). Archaeological dating: early
stage of the Únětice culture (Middle Únětice stage after periodisation of V. Moucha). Radiocarbon dating:
MAMS-30774 (3651±20) 2129–1950 cal BC 2-sigma (140, 141). Pandora No.: KNE007. ÚAPPSČ –
Institute of Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia.
13–16. Kolín, road bypass (Kolín, Kolín district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Rescue excavation preceding the construction of the road bypass around the town in 2008-2010, directed
by R. Šumberová and D. Malyková (Institute of Archaeology, Prague). The length of the excavated strip of
land was about 8 km and an area of ca. 40 ha was completely uncovered. Excavated 7,000 features belong
to most of the archaeological periods between the beginning of the Neolithic up to the Early Middle Ages.
The excavation was divided into ten sections (Kolín I-X), treated as separate fieldwork events with their
own context numbers. Finds have been published selectively so far, for information see (143, 144).
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2021 20:24:49 GMT
Ancient genomes suggest the eastern Pontic-Caspian steppe as the source of western Iron Age nomads Abstract For millennia, the Pontic-Caspian steppe was a connector between the Eurasian steppe and Europe. In this scene, multidirectional and sequential movements of different populations may have occurred, including those of the Eurasian steppe nomads. We sequenced 35 genomes (low to medium coverage) of Bronze Age individuals (Srubnaya-Alakulskaya) and Iron Age nomads (Cimmerians, Scythians, and Sarmatians) that represent four distinct cultural entities corresponding to the chronological sequence of cultural complexes in the region. Our results suggest that, despite genetic links among these peoples, no group can be considered a direct ancestor of the subsequent group. The nomadic populations were heterogeneous and carried genetic affinities with populations from several other regions including the Far East and the southern Urals. We found evidence of a stable shared genetic signature, making the eastern Pontic-Caspian steppe a likely source of western nomadic groups. INTRODUCTION The Pontic-Caspian steppe (PCS), stretching from the southern Urals to the western North Pontic lands, was the stage of various demographic changes in the past, and several of those remain unknown. During the Bronze and Iron Age, the area was inhabited by a succession of nomadic populations that had significant impact on the cultural development of both Asia and Europe (1, 2). Possibly the best known of these groups is the Yamnaya. Recent genomic studies have revealed cross-continental Early Bronze Age migrations (~3000 BCE) of the nomadic people associated with the Yamnaya horizon (3, 4). The migration introduced the Caucasus genetic component to the genetic landscape of Europe. In Central Europe, Yamnaya ancestry first appeared among people from the Corded Ware complex and has since been found in many subsequent ancient and present-day populations. However, the Pontic-Caspian steppe was critical not only for Early Bronze Age Yamnaya migrations but also because of succeeding movements and population transformations that took place in the developed classical stage of the Late Bronze and Iron Ages between 1800 BCE and 400 CE. This period covered the development of the Srubnaya and Alakulskaya Cultures (~1800–1200 BCE), associated with small settlement sites distributed from the Urals to the Dnieper valley (1). From around 1000 BCE, pre-Scythian nomadic populations started to appear in the western Pontic-Caspian steppe including the Cimmerians known from historical sources (5). Despite regional variation and local peculiarities, the Cimmerians were not associated with any uniform type of archaeological material culture (6). In the seventh century BCE, they were succeeded by the Scythians, who plausibly pushed the Cimmerians into Asia Minor (7). Between 700 and 300 BCE, the Scythians, representing mobile pastoral nomads of a new militaristic type (1), dominated the Pontic-Kazakh steppe, occupying an area from the Altai to the Carpathian Mountains. Their decline began around 300 BCE and was caused by intensifying hostile relations with the Macedonians in the West and the invasion of the Sarmatians from the East. The Sarmatians and the Scythians are thought to have coexisted for a few centuries, but eventually, the former group prevailed (2), resulting in the Scythian downfall. The Sarmatians are believed to comprise a number of groups of similar nomadic background (8), and they became the politically most influential force within the eastern fringes of the Roman Empire at the time. Their decline (~400 CE) was associated with the attack of the Goths and the subsequent invasion of the Huns (8). The genomic structure of the Bronze and Iron Age (1800 BCE–400 CE) populations in the Pontic-Caspian steppe has not been fully resolved. While earlier genomic studies have suggested close links between the Srubnaya and the central European Late Neolithic and Bronze Age populations (9), our knowledge of the genetic origins of the Cimmerians is limited. Genetic analyses of maternal lineages of Scythians suggest a mixed origin and an east-west admixture gradient across the Eurasian steppe (10–12). The genomics of two early Scythian Aldy-Bel individuals (13) showed genetic affinities to eastern populations of Central Asia (12). However, population interactions and the origin of Scythians of the Pontic-Caspian steppe remain poorly understood. Similarly, little is known about the origins and genetic affinities of the Sarmatians. Genomic studies suggest that the latter group may have been genetically similar to the eastern Yamnaya and Poltavka Bronze Age groups (12). To investigate the demographic dynamics in the Pontic-Caspian steppe, we generated and analyzed genomes of the Late Bronze and Iron Age individuals from the region (Fig. 1, A and B).  Fig. 1 Radiocarbon ages and geographical locations of the ancient samples used in this study. Figure panels presented counterclockwise: (A) Bar plot visualizing approximate timeline of presented and previously published individuals. (B) Map showing the locations of ancient individuals sequenced in this study and the locations of previously published ancient individuals used in comparative analyses. (C) Principal component analysis (PCA) plot visualizing 35 Bronze Age and Iron Age individuals presented in this study and in published ancient individuals (table S5) in relation to modern reference panel from the Human Origins data set (41). |
|
