Population genomics of the Viking world

PRJEB37976 Original Paper / DOI2020-09-16434 samples (study)

AI interpretationAI-generated

Viking genomes reveal far-reaching gene flow and regional genetic structure across Scandinavia.

This study sequenced 442 Viking Age genomes from Europe and Greenland. It shows the Viking expansion spread Scandinavian ancestry outward but also brought southern and eastern gene flow into Scandinavia. Different Scandinavian regions left distinct genetic marks: Danes in England, Swedes in the Baltic, Norwegians in Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. Within Scandinavia, genetic structure was strong, with southern diversity hotspots and limited internal gene flow.

Viking Age Scandinavia received gene flow from the south and east, while also exporting ancestry to other regions.
Distinct Scandinavian populations had different targets: Danish ancestry into England, Swedish into the Baltic, Norwegian into Ireland, Iceland and Greenland.
Pigmentation loci and immune-related alleles, including LCT lactase persistence and ANKA variants, show strong differentiation over the past millennium.

Sample interpretation

The 437 Viking-culture samples include 285 with resolved Y haplogroups. The most common Y lines are I-M253 (13), R-L761 (5), I-DF29 (5) and I-Y3000 (4). Top mtDNA lineages are H6a1a and H3a1a (7 each), J2b1a and H1a1 (6 each). Sampling is densest at Estonia_Salme_II-I (34), Sweden_Skara (31), Gotland_Frojel-03504 (29), UK_Oxford_#22 and Gotland_Kopparsvik-161/65 (22 each).

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this study shows Viking identity was genetically diverse and regionally structured. If you have Scandinavian, British, Irish, Icelandic or Baltic roots, your DNA may reflect specific Viking-era movements rather than a single uniform Viking population.

Abstract

The maritime expansion of Scandinavian populations during the Viking Age (about AD 750–1050) was a far-flung transformation in world history1,2. Here we sequenced the genomes of 442 humans from archaeological sites across Europe and Greenland (to a median depth of about 1×) to understand the global influence of this expansion. We find the Viking period involved gene flow into Scandinavia from the south and east. We observe genetic structure within Scandinavia, with diversity hotspots in the south and restricted gene flow within Scandinavia. We find evidence for a major influx of Danish ancestry into England; a Swedish influx into the Baltic; and Norwegian influx into Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. Additionally, we see substantial ancestry from elsewhere in Europe entering Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Our ancient DNA analysis also revealed that a Viking expedition included close family members. By comparing with modern populations, we find that pigmentation-associated loci have undergone strong population differentiation during the past millennium, and trace positively selected loci—including the lactase-persistence allele of LCT and alleles of ANKA that are associated with the immune response—in detail. We conclude that the Viking diaspora was characterized by substantial transregional engagement: distinct populations influenced the genomic makeup of different regions of Europe, and Scandinavia experienced increased contact with the rest of the continent.

Samples & Data on TheYtree

437samples on site

285Y haplogroup resolved

80archaeological sites

Sample Map

Map tiles by TheYtree · dot size = number of samples

Paternal (Y-DNA) Haplogroups

Haplogroup	Samples
I-M253	13
R-L761	5
I-DF29	5
I-Y3000	4
R-M269	4
R-M417	3
R	3
R-CTS4179	3
R1	3
I-L813	3
R-F19106	3
R-S3237	2

Maternal (mtDNA) Haplogroups

H6a1a · 7 H3a1a · 7 J2b1a · 6 H1a1 · 6 J1b1a1 · 5 T2b · 5 H1a · 5 H1c · 5 H5 · 4 HV0a · 4

Sample Highlights More samples →

Sample	Y-DNA	mtDNA	Culture / Period
VK362	E-Y85580	V7b	Viking· Viking - 10th century CE
VK474	E-FT162973	J1d	Viking· Viking - 900-1050 CE
VK479	G-Y106451	H1a1	Viking· Viking - 900-1050 CE
VK316	I-DF29	K1a4	Viking· Viking - 9-11th centuries CE
VK367	I-Y44939	J1b1a1	Viking· Viking - 10th century CE
VK506	I-BY72774	J1c2	Viking· EarlyViking - 8th century CE
VK420	I-A14589	I4a	Viking· Viking - 8-11th centuries CE
VK190	I-FGC69149	K1a-T195C!	Viking· LateNorse - 1360 CE
VK482	I-Y18311	H1a	Viking· EarlyViking - 8th century CE
VK29	I-S7642	T2b3b	Viking· Viking - 9th century CE