Ancient genomes reveal origin and rapid trans-Eurasian migration of 7th century Avar elites
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.New genomic data reveals the Avar elites who migrated to the Carpathian Basin had Northeast Asian ancestry, linking them to the Rouran empire. This supports a rapid, long-distance migration of these steppe peoples.
Area Of Science
- Ancient DNA Analysis
- Population Genetics
- Archaeogenetics
Background
- The origins of the Avars, who established a significant empire in the Carpathian Basin from 567/68 CE, remain a subject of intense historical and archaeological debate.
- Contemporaneous accounts and later scholarship have questioned whether the Avars were direct successors to the Rouran empire of the Mongolian Steppe.
Observation
- This study analyzed genome-wide data from 66 individuals from the Carpathian Basin, spanning pre-Avar and Avar periods.
- Included in the analysis were individuals from elite Avar-period burials and key sites within the empire's core region.
Findings
- The genomic analysis provides strong evidence for a rapid, long-distance trans-Eurasian migration of Avar-period elites.
- These elites exhibited Northeast Asian ancestry consistent with populations from the Mongolian Steppe, including genetic matches to the Rouran period.
- Later Avar elites showed an additional steppe-related ancestry component, suggesting either later migration waves or broader genetic diversity within the original migrants.
Implications
- These findings support the hypothesis of a Rouran-connected origin for the Avar elites and their swift migration across Eurasia.
- The genetic data offers crucial insights into the complex population dynamics and elite mobility during the early medieval period.
- This research contributes to understanding the peopling of Europe and the genetic landscape shaped by large-scale migrations.
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