Genetic formation of Neolithic Hongshan people and demic expansion of Hongshan culture inferred from ancient human genomes

AI interpretationAI-generated

Ancient DNA from 19 Hongshan-related individuals reveals their genetic makeup and expansion.

This study analyzed genome-wide data from 19 individuals linked to the Hongshan culture at the Zhengjiagou site in Hebei, the westernmost and southernmost Hongshan-related site found so far. The results show that these people had a mix of local Neolithic populations and northern steppe ancestry, and that Hongshan culture spread partly through population movement, not just cultural diffusion.

• The Zhengjiagou site extends the known range of Hongshan culture to the west and south.
• Y-chromosome lineages are dominated by C-ACT7091 (12 of 15 resolved males), with a few N lineages.
• Mitochondrial DNA is diverse, with B5b2c being the most common (4 of 19).

Sample interpretation

Of the 19 individuals, 15 had resolvable Y-chromosome haplogroups. The most common was C-ACT7091 (12 individuals), followed by N-Y149575 (2) and N-Y109387 (1). Mitochondrial DNA was more varied: B5b2c appeared 4 times, R11 3 times, and A18, D4a, D5a3a1 each twice, plus one A-a. This suggests a patrilocal society with high female diversity.

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this study shows that Hongshan people were not a single uniform group but a mix of lineages. The strong C-ACT7091 paternal line and diverse maternal lines can help you trace your own deep roots if you carry similar markers.