The formation of human populations in South and Central Asia

AI interpretationAI-generated

523 ancient genomes reveal how South and Central Asian populations formed.

This study sequenced 523 ancient individuals to trace the genetic history of South and Central Asia. It found that modern South Asian ancestry mainly comes from an ancient gradient between Iranian hunter-gatherers and Southeast Asian-related groups. After the Indus Valley Civilization declined, its people mixed with southeastern groups and with Steppe pastoralists who arrived around 4000 years ago, creating the two major ancestral populations of South Asia.

• Modern South Asian ancestry stems from a prehistoric genetic gradient between early Iranian hunter-gatherers and Southeast Asian-related peoples.
• After the Indus Valley Civilization's decline, its people mixed with southeastern groups, forming one major ancestral population whose direct descendants live in southern India.
• Steppe pastoralists spreading from Central Asia around 4000 years ago contributed the other major ancestral population, with a genetic profile matching Bronze Age Eastern Europe.

Sample interpretation

The dataset includes 529 ancient individuals, with 263 having resolved Y-chromosome lineages. Major cultural groups are SPGT (84), Western Steppe MLBA (80), BMAC (48), Central Steppe MLBA (35), and Afanasievo (23). Top Y-haplogroups are R-Z2123 (15), R-S23592 (12), R-Z2124 (12), and R-F992 (9). Top mitochondrial haplogroups are T1a1 (23), U7a (11), and H2b (8).

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this study shows that South Asian genetic diversity is shaped by ancient mixing between Iranian hunter-gatherers, Southeast Asian-related groups, and Steppe pastoralists. It highlights how migrations from Central Asia influenced both South Asia and Eastern Europe, linking genetic patterns to the spread of Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages.