Lasting Lower Rhine-Meuse forager ancestry shaped Bell Beaker expansion

Area of Science:

• Paleogenomics
• European Prehistory
• Population Genetics

Background:

• European ancestry underwent significant shifts with farmer and steppe migrations.
• Previous studies show widespread ancestry turnover across the continent.
• The impact of these migrations on specific ecological regions remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate genetic ancestry in northwestern Europe from 8500 to 1700 BCE.
• To identify exceptions to the general patterns of farmer and steppe ancestry spread.
• To understand the role of local ecology and migration in shaping distinct populations.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide data analysis from 112 ancient individuals.
• Radiocarbon dating of archaeological samples.
• Comparison of genetic profiles with established European population groups.

Main Results:

• A distinctive population with ~50% hunter-gatherer ancestry persisted in the Netherlands, Belgium, and western Germany.
• This population incorporated female Early European Farmer (EEF) ancestry, unlike typical patterns.
• Corded Ware complex arrival in the western Netherlands showed minimal steppe ancestry despite Y-chromosome markers.

Conclusions:

• Local ecology influenced the adoption of farming and gene flow, maintaining distinct communities.
• The Lower Rhine-Meuse Bell Beaker phenomenon resulted from a fusion of local and Corded Ware migrants.
• This Bell Beaker expansion significantly altered ancestry in Great Britain, causing a major Neolithic population replacement.