Genomic History of Neolithic to Bronze Age Anatolia, Northern Levant, and Southern Caucasus

Abstract

Highlights d Genome-wide analysis of 110 ancient individuals from the Near East d Gene pools of Anatolia and Caucasus were biologically connected 6500 BCE d Gene flow from neighboring populations in Northern Levant during 3 rd millennium BCE d One individual of likely Central Asian origin in 2 nd millennium BCE Northern Levant

Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

“…The Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula are pivotal regions in the timeline of human history and an increasing number of aDNA studies have attempted to understand the genetic history in these regions. Although there have been successful studies 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] , given the poor conditions for DNA preservation, this process is proving to be slower than in more environmentally favourable regions of the world. Nonetheless, given the historical importance of this region, each newly recovered DNA sequence adds an important piece to the genomic and cultural puzzle of this territory.…”

“…In the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, the proportion of African ancestry increases. Different archaeogenetic studies have highlighted the complex demographic changes that have shaped genomic ancestry in the Levant 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .The majority of prehistoric and historic genomes sequenced so far follow a similar pattern, but several studies have also found single individuals deviating from this pattern 6,8,11 . Such finds suggest additional small-scale migrations and the presence of structure within the region that is not displayed in the majority of the past society.…”

“…In the later Chalcolithic period, evidence of distinctive cultural practices and associated population movements highlight the dynamic history of the region, especially in the Southern Levant 7,8 . Further, genomic studies from the Bronze to Iron Ages in the Levant also report admixture and population movements, and suggest some degree of continuity with modern populations 6,[9][10][11] . On an even more recent timescale, studies from the medieval period 6,11 and modern populations 13,14 describe genetic structure and the role played by culture and religion in the formation of these structures.…”

“…Further, genomic studies from the Bronze to Iron Ages in the Levant also report admixture and population movements, and suggest some degree of continuity with modern populations 6,[9][10][11] . On an even more recent timescale, studies from the medieval period 6,11 and modern populations 13,14 describe genetic structure and the role played by culture and religion in the formation of these structures. Notably, a study on medieval individuals from Lebanon previously identified as Crusaders 12 demonstrated their ancestry to be both European or local as well as an admixture of Europeans and Near-Easterners.…”

“…A number of studies on ancient DNA from different time periods in the Middle east have provided a general overview of the genetic history in this region. These include descriptions of the earliest local farming groups from the Neolithic 1 and their expansions into Europe 2,3 as well as the genetic differentiation among contemporary Neolithic groups [4][5][6] . In the later Chalcolithic period, evidence of distinctive cultural practices and associated population movements highlight the dynamic history of the region, especially in the Southern Levant 7,8 .…”