The genetic history around the southeastern Mongolian Plateau traces Neolithic cultural diffusions in northern East Asia

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Ancient DNA from 35 genomes reveals 3,800 years of genetic continuity and cultural exchange on the southeastern Mongolian Plateau.

Researchers sequenced 35 ancient genomes from the southeastern Mongolian Plateau, dating from 8,800 to 5,000 years ago. They found that early Holocene populations shared a common ancestry that persisted for thousands of years. This ancestry, linked to post-LGM microblade dispersals, later influenced Hongshan culture populations in the West Liao River basin. Between 5,700 and 5,000 years ago, this continuity was disrupted by gene flow from the northeastern Mongolian Plateau and Hongshan groups, coinciding with cultural diffusion.

• Early Holocene southeastern Mongolian Plateau populations shared a common ancestry that lasted until 5,700-7,500 years ago.
• This ancestry contributed to West Liao River basin populations associated with the Hongshan culture.
• Genetic continuity was disrupted by gene flow from the northeastern Mongolian Plateau and Hongshan populations between 5,700 and 5,000 years ago, matching cultural diffusion.

Sample interpretation

The study analyzed 35 ancient individuals from the southeastern Mongolian Plateau. Y-chromosome haplogroups were resolved for 22 males, with N-CTS6128 and N-M46 being most common (5 each), followed by C-BY59164, N-B482, C-SK1032 (2 each), and O-P164, C-CTS2, C-M217 (1 each). Mitochondrial DNA showed R11 as the most frequent (9), then D4 and G2a-T152C! (4 each), A-a (2), and G2a1, B5b2c (1 each). Most samples came from the Zhengjiagou site.

For genealogy enthusiasts

This study shows that ancient populations in the southeastern Mongolian Plateau were not isolated but engaged in complex genetic and cultural exchanges. For ancestry enthusiasts, it highlights how migrations and cultural diffusion shaped northern East Asian populations, and provides a deep-time context for Y and mtDNA lineages like N and R11 in the region.