Ancient DNA from Shimao city records kinship practices in Neolithic China

PRJCA028402 Original Paper / DOI2025-11-26207 samples (study)

AI interpretationAI-generated

石峁古DNA揭示父系社会与性别祭祀。

Researchers sequenced 144 ancient genomes from Shimao and nearby sites. They found that tomb owners were linked in pedigrees up to four generations, mostly through male lines. This suggests a patrilineal society. Sacrifices may have been sex-specific. The population descended from earlier Yangshao-related people, with later Yumin-related influx not disrupting genetic continuity. Southern ancestry also appeared, hinting at northward rice farming spread.

Shimao communities had a predominantly patrilineal descent structure, with pedigrees spanning four generations.
Sacrificial rituals may have been sex-specific, possibly reflecting social hierarchy.
Shimao culture populations mainly originated from Yangshao-related people at least 1,000 years earlier, with later Yumin-related gene flow not interrupting regional genetic continuity.

Sample interpretation

The site_samples count is 207, with 92 Y-chromosome lineages resolved. Top Y haplogroups include O-TYT50824 (7), O-F8 (7), O-F2137 (4), O-F5 (4), O-YP4864 (4), C-CTS10923 (4), C-F5477 (3), and N-F1020 (2). Top mitochondrial haplogroups are A-a1 (9), B4a4 (8), D4g2a1 (8), G2a1 (6), D4a5 (5), and G1c (5). Sites include Shimao (19 and 3), Zhoujiazhuang (18), and others with 1-3 samples.

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this study shows how ancient DNA can reveal kinship and social structure. The patrilineal pattern and sex-specific sacrifices offer clues about early Chinese state formation. The genetic continuity and southern influence highlight complex population interactions.

Abstract

The discovery of Shimao city (around 2300–1800 bce), a premier state-level Neolithic fortified settlement in Shaanxi, China2, played an important role in helping us understand the emergence of socially stratified urban societies. However, key questions remain regarding how ancestry and kinship shaped the hierarchy of this class-based society characterized by human sacrifice. The origin of the founding populations of Shimao and other Loess Plateau settlements, and their interactions within the broader ancestral landscape, have yet to be determined. Here we present, by sequencing 144 ancient genomes from Shimao city and its satellites, pedigrees among tomb owners spanning up to four generations. These findings reveal a predominantly patrilineal descent structure across Shimao communities, and possibly sex-specific sacrificial rituals. We also characterize the population history, revealing that Shimao culture-related populations originated mostly from a Yangshao culture-related population present at least 1,000 years earlier, and the lasting inflow of Yumin-related populations from Inner Mongolia did not interrupt regional genetic continuity. Broader genetic influence from southern mainland ancestry over Shimao culture-related populations supports evidence of rice farming expanding further north than previously expected. Together, these results uncover fine details of the regional peopling and social structure of early state establishment.

Samples & Data on TheYtree

207samples on site

92Y haplogroup resolved

9archaeological sites

Sample Map

Map tiles by TheYtree · dot size = number of samples

Paternal (Y-DNA) Haplogroups

Haplogroup	Samples
O-F8	7
O-TYT50824	7
C-CTS10923	4
O-F2137	4
O-F5	4
O-YP4864	4
C-F5477	3
N-Y125672	2
O-FT325124	2
C-F978	2
O-F310	2
N-Y9022	2

Maternal (mtDNA) Haplogroups

A-a1 · 9 D4g2a1 · 8 B4a4 · 8 G2a1 · 6 F2g · 5 D4b2b · 5 D4a5 · 5 G1c · 5 D4j3 · 4 Z3 · 4

Sample Highlights More samples →

Sample	Y-DNA	mtDNA	Culture / Period
Miaoliang3_1st_kinship	C-CTS6259	Z3	· 4836–4625 BP
Wuzhuangguoliang_4	N-M46	D4j3	· 4832–4530 BP
Wuzhuangguoliang_6	C-MF79268	F1a1c	· 4832–4530 BP
Wuzhuangguoliang_7	C-MF79268	R11a	· 4832–4530 BP
Wuzhuangguoliang_10	N-M46	A-a1	· 4820–4530 BP
Wuzhuangguoliang_8	C-CTS10923	D4j-T16311C!	· 4831–4585 BP
Muzhuzhuliang_4	C-F5477	N9a1	· 4082–3895 BP
Muzhuzhuliang_1	O-F8	C4a2c	· 3966–3727 BP
Shengedaliang_2	C-F5477	F2g	· 3969–3650 BP
Shengedaliang_3	O-SK1758	M8a2	· 3969–3650 BP