Ancient DNA from 47 Alpine individuals traces genetic continuity from Mesolithic to Bronze Age.
This study analyzed 47 prehistoric individuals from the Eastern Italian Alps, spanning the Mesolithic (6380-6107 BC) to Middle Bronze Age (1601-1295 BC). The Mesolithic genome shows admixture between Western and Eastern hunter-gatherers that occurred from about 13700 to 8300 BC. From the Neolithic onward, most individuals, including the Tyrolean Iceman, share a similar genomic structure with high Anatolian Neolithic-related ancestry and low hunter-gatherer ancestry, indicating genetic continuity. Steppe-related ancestry appears around 2400 BC. The study also suggests local and non-local admixture between hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers in this alpine region.
The site includes 3 ancient individuals from Copper Age horizon 2/3, with 2 resolved Y-chromosome haplogroups: G-Z1816 and G-S10458. Mitochondrial haplogroups include T2c1d-T152C!, J1c1b1, and one undetermined. These samples come from three sites: BER01, MAR01, and COR01. The Y-haplogroup G is typical of early European farmers, consistent with the high Anatolian Neolithic-related ancestry seen in the Iceman and other individuals.
For ancestry enthusiasts, this study confirms that the Tyrolean Iceman was part of a long-standing Alpine population with deep roots in Neolithic farmers. It highlights the region as a bridge between Mediterranean and Northern Alpine groups, with later Steppe influence arriving around 2400 BC.
Map tiles by TheYtree · dot size = number of samples
| Sample | Y-DNA | mtDNA | Culture / Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| BER01 | G-S10458 | J1c1b1 | Copper Age horizon 2/3· 4004 cal BP |
| COR01 | G-Z1816 | T2c1d-T152C! | Copper Age horizon 2/3· 3946 cal BP |