Cosmopolitanism in the depths of Barbaricum evidenced by archaeogenomic data from the Late Iron Age Goth community of the Masłomęcz group

AI interpretationAI-generated

Ancient DNA reveals a Gothic community in barbarian Europe was surprisingly cosmopolitan.

This study sequenced ancient DNA from 37 burials of the Masłomęcz group, a Gothic-associated community in eastern Poland (2nd-4th century CE). While their core ancestry came from Scandinavia, they also absorbed people from the Baltics, Balkans, and even the Mediterranean. This shows the group was genetically diverse and open to long-distance migration, challenging the idea of isolated 'barbarians'.

• The Masłomęcz group had mostly Scandinavian-derived ancestry but assimilated individuals from distant regions like the Baltics, Balkans, and Mediterranean.
• Multiperson burials contained no close kin, suggesting burial customs did not rely on biological family ties.
• Long-range mobility and immigration were common far beyond the Roman Empire's borders, contradicting stereotypes of static barbarian societies.

Sample interpretation

The site yielded 43 samples, with 18 resolved Y-haplogroups. Y lineages include I-Y7626 (2), I-CTS11603, I-Z2041, I-L1242, J-PH1602, R-FGC2555, I-A11537, and R-S7759. Mitochondrial DNA shows T2b (2), J1c8a (2), U5a1a1-T152C!, H1a3c1, X2c1, and HV0-a. Most samples come from sites PL086 (31) and PL057 (9), with a few from PL046, PL070, and PL087.

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this shows that even 'barbarian' groups could be highly diverse and connected. Your ancient DNA matches might reflect complex migrations, not just regional isolation. It highlights how genetic heterogeneity can arise from open communities.