EAA2021: Abstract
Abstract is part of session #468:
Title & Content
Title:
Genetic insights into kinship and social structure of an Iron Age community from Tuva, Southern Siberia
Content:
The site of Tunnug1 (Republic of Tuva, Southern Siberia) is prominent for its ‘Scythian’ kurgan (9th c. BCE) but includes also significantly younger features such as a funerary complex of the Kokel culture (2nd–5th c. CE). The skeletal material of this cemetery is remarkable for the high incidence rate of perimortem trauma due to interpersonal violence interpreted as signs of warfare, executions or rituals. However, the single and multiple graves including grave goods indicate a careful funerary treatment, and radiocarbon dating suggests usage of this cemetery over several centuries.
In this case study, we aim to explore the social structure and kinship of this population through ancient DNA analyses on more than 50 individuals. Genome-wide sequencing data revealed a heterogeneous genetic background of these individuals forming a cline with different proportions of Western hunter-gatherer and Han-like ancestry, reflecting the high mobility of this nomadic steppe culture. However, first- and second-degree relationships among the individuals support the interpretation as one or multiple social communities.
Dating to the period following the fall of the Xiongnu Empire, this site offers valuable insights into the social organization of a ‘Hunno-Sarmatian’ population in the face of political instability.
In this case study, we aim to explore the social structure and kinship of this population through ancient DNA analyses on more than 50 individuals. Genome-wide sequencing data revealed a heterogeneous genetic background of these individuals forming a cline with different proportions of Western hunter-gatherer and Han-like ancestry, reflecting the high mobility of this nomadic steppe culture. However, first- and second-degree relationships among the individuals support the interpretation as one or multiple social communities.
Dating to the period following the fall of the Xiongnu Empire, this site offers valuable insights into the social organization of a ‘Hunno-Sarmatian’ population in the face of political instability.
Keywords:
Ancient DNA, Palaeogenetics, Iron Age, Steppe, Kinship
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authors
Main authors:
Marcel Keller1
Co-author:
Gino Caspari2,3
Marco Milella4
Timur Sadykov5
Jegor Blochin5
Sönke Szidat6,7
Lehti Saag8
Toomas Kivisild9,8
Sandra Lösch4
Christiana L. Scheib8,10
Marco Milella4
Timur Sadykov5
Jegor Blochin5
Sönke Szidat6,7
Lehti Saag8
Toomas Kivisild9,8
Sandra Lösch4
Christiana L. Scheib8,10
Affiliations:
1 Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
2 Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia
3 Institute of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
4 Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
5 Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
6 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
7 Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR), University of Bern, Switzerland
8 Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Estonia
9 Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Belgium
10 St John’s College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
2 Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia
3 Institute of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
4 Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
5 Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
6 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
7 Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR), University of Bern, Switzerland
8 Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Estonia
9 Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Belgium
10 St John’s College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom