Resolving relationships between several Neolithic and Mesolithic populations in Northern Eurasia using geometric...

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Bioarchaeology
• Population Genetics

Background:

• Understanding ancient population relationships is crucial for reconstructing human migration and adaptation.
• Mesolithic and Neolithic Northern Eurasia represent key periods of human dispersal and cultural development.

Observation:

• Cranial morphology of Mesolithic and Neolithic individuals from Eastern Europe and Siberia was analyzed using geometric morphometrics.
• Modern populations were included for comparative analysis.

Findings:

• Cranial variation was influenced by geography and age, but not solely by geographical distance.
• Some ancient groups exhibited significant morphological distances, challenging simple isolation-by-distance models.
• Climate showed a strong correlation with geography, influencing population relationships.

Implications:

• The Yuzhny Oleni Ostrov Mesolithic population shows affinities with diverse Northern Eurasian groups, suggesting complex interactions.
• Siberian Neolithic populations connect to both modern Siberian and Native North American groups, indicating potential ancient migratory routes.