Mitochondrial DNA analysis shows a Near Eastern Neolithic origin for domestic cattle and no indication of domestication of European aurochs

Abstract

The extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius primigenius) was a large type of cattle that ranged over almost the whole Eurasian continent. The aurochs is the wild progenitor of modern cattle, but it is unclear whether European aurochs contributed to this process. To provide new insights into the demographic history of aurochs and domestic cattle, we have generated high-confidence mitochondrial DNA sequences from 59 archaeological skeletal finds, which were attributed to wild European cattle populations based on their chronological date and/or morphology. All pre-Neolithic aurochs belonged to the previously designated P haplogroup, indicating that this represents the Late Glacial Central European signature. We also report one new and highly divergent haplotype in a Neolithic aurochs sample from Germany, which points to greater variability during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, the Neolithic and Bronze Age samples that were classified with confidence as European aurochs using morphological criteria all carry P haplotype mitochondrial DNA, suggesting continuity of Late Glacial and Early Holocene aurochs populations in Europe. Bayesian analysis indicates that recent population growth gives a significantly better fit to our data than a constant-sized population, an observation consistent with a postglacial expansion scenario, possibly from a single European refugial population. Previous work has shown that most ancient and modern European domestic cattle carry haplotypes previously designated T. This, in combination with our new finding of a T haplotype in a very Early Neolithic site in Syria, lends persuasive support to a scenario whereby gracile Near Eastern domestic populations, carrying predominantly T haplotypes, replaced P haplotype-carrying robust autochthonous aurochs populations in Europe, from the Early Neolithic onward. During the period of coexistence, it appears that domestic cattle were kept separate from wild aurochs and introgression was extremely rare.

Multiple paternal origins of domestic cattle revealed by Y-specific interspersed multilocus microsatellites

“…The divergent sire lineages, characterised here by Y-haplogroups, align with geographic areas and support previously suggested origins of cattle and directions of spread (Bradley et al, 1996;Troy et al, 2001;Baig et al, 2005;Lai et al, 2006;Edwards et al, 2007a;Achilli et al, 2008). In light of the above evidence, the most parsimonious interpretation of our data is that cattle have multiple paternal origins, possibly arising through multiple independent domestications.…”

“…However, more recent evidence obtained from ancient and medieval samples does not support this hypothesis (Bollongino et al, 2008;Svensson and Götherströ m, 2008), and the alternative model of a sudden introduction of domestic cattle into Central Europe without significant crossbreeding with local wild cattle remains unchallenged (Edwards et al, 2007a;Bollongino et al, 2008). Therefore, practical fixation of Y1 haplotypes in Northern Atlantic European cattle breeds would more likely be the result of drift Abbreviation: AMOVA, analysis of molecular variance.…”

“…This would indicate a greater genetic influence of the primitive European aurochs on the formation of modern cattle breeds in Europe (Beja-Pereira et al, 2006;Achilli et al, 2008). However, ancient DNA does not generally support significant crossbreeding between local European wild cattle and domesticated cattle (Edwards et al, 2007a;Bollongino et al, 2008). In addition, medieval Scandinavian samples largely belonged to haplogroup Y2 and, overall, this scenario would not be consistent with a conserved signal from the time of domestication (Svensson and Gö therströ m, 2008).…”

“…Cattle history, inferred from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers (Bradley et al, 1996;Loftus et al, 1994Loftus et al, , 1999Troy et al, 2001;Edwards et al, 2007a;Achilli et al, 2008), suggests that cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) domestication involved at least two genetically distinct auroch (Bos primigenius) species in the Near East and great Indus Valley. Most European cattle resulted from the expansion of a small cattle population from the Near East after domestication, with one (T3) of the four major haplogroups (T, T1, T2 and T3) identified in the Near East predominating in the mainland continent.…”

Archaeology: The milk revolution

“…On their own, the growth patterns do not say whether the Neolithic transition in Europe happened through evolution or replacement, but cattle bones offer important clues. In a precursor study 7 , Burger and several other LeCHE participants found that domesticated cattle at Neolithic sites in Europe were most closely related to cows from the Middle East, rather than indigenous wild aurochs. This is a strong indication that incoming herders brought their cattle with them, rather than domesticating locally, says Burger.…”