V.I. Molodin

Ancestry and demography and descendants of Iron Age nomads of the Eurasian Steppe

During the 1st millennium before the Common Era (BCE), nomadic tribes associated with the Iron Age Scythian culture spread over the Eurasian Steppe, covering a territory of more than 3,500u2009km in breadth. To understand the demographic processes behind the spread of the Scythian culture, we analysed genomic data from eight individuals and a mitochondrial dataset of 96 individuals originating in eastern and western parts of the Eurasian Steppe. Genomic inference reveals that Scythians in the east and the west of the steppe zone can best be described as a mixture of Yamnaya-related ancestry and an East Asian component. Demographic modelling suggests independent origins for eastern and western groups with ongoing gene-flow between them, plausibly explaining the striking uniformity of their material culture. We also find evidence that significant gene-flow from east to west Eurasia must have occurred early during the Iron Age.

Human migrations in the southern region of the West Siberian Plain during the Bronze Age: Archaeological, palaeogenetic and anthropological data

In this paper we present archaeological and anthropological data on human migrations in the Western Siberian foreststeppe region during the Bronze Age (4th–beginning of 1st millennium BC). These data, accumulated over forty years of intensive research in the region, are compared to new results showing the diversity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages in this region during that period (92 mtDNA samples from seven ancient human groups). Preliminary analyses have demonstrated the usefulness of ancient DNA in tracing and unravelling patterns of past human migrations.

MtDNA Haplogroup A10 Lineages in Bronze Age Samples Suggest That Ancient Autochthonous Human Groups Contributed to the Specificity of the Indigenous West Siberian Population

Background The craniometric specificity of the indigenous West Siberian human populations cannot be completely explained by the genetic interactions of the western and eastern Eurasian groups recorded in the archaeology of the area from the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. Anthropologists have proposed another probable explanation: contribution to the genetic structure of West Siberian indigenous populations by ancient human groups, which separated from western and eastern Eurasian populations before the final formation of their phenotypic and genetic features and evolved independently in the region over a long period of time. This hypothesis remains untested. From the genetic point of view, it could be confirmed by the presence in the gene pool of indigenous populations of autochthonous components that evolved in the region over long time periods. The detection of such components, particularly in the mtDNA gene pool, is crucial for further clarification of early regional genetic history. Results and Conclusion We present the results of analysis of mtDNA samples (n = 10) belonging to the A10 haplogroup, from Bronze Age populations of West Siberian forest-steppe (V—I millennium BC), that were identified in a screening study of a large diachronic sample (n = 96). A10 lineages, which are very rare in modern Eurasian populations, were found in all the Bronze Age groups under study. Data on the A10 lineages’ phylogeny and phylogeography in ancient West Siberian and modern Eurasian populations suggest that A10 haplogroup underwent a long-term evolution in West Siberia or arose there autochthonously; thus, the presence of A10 lineages indicates the possible contribution of early autochthonous human groups to the genetic specificity of modern populations, in addition to contributions of later interactions of western and eastern Eurasian populations.

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the gene pool of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cisbaikalian human population

This paper presents the results of a study of a mitochondrial DNA sample (N = 15) from the remains of representatives of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age (VI–III millennia BC) Cisbaikalian human population. It was found that the mitochondrial gene pool of the ancient population under study contains lineages of East Eurasian haplogroups D, G2a C, Z, and F1b. The results of the comparative analysis of the group under study with ancient and modern Eurasian populations suggest that the development of autochtonous East Eurasian genetic components was the main mechanism of the formation of the population of the Baikal region. Genetic contacts with populations of neighboring regions of Central Asia also contributed to the formation of the gene pool of the Cisbaikalian population.

Maternal genetic features of the Iron Age Tagar population from Southern Siberia (1st millennium BC)

Early nomads in the Eurasian steppes since the beginning of the 1st millennium BC played a key role in the formation of the cultural and genetic landscape of populations of a significant part of Eurasia, from Eastern Europe to Eastern Central Asia. Numerous archaeological cultures associated with early nomads have been discovered throughout the Eurasian steppe belt. The Tagar archaeological culture existed in the Minusinsk basin (Sayan Mountains, Southern Siberia, Russia) in the northeastern periphery of the Eurasian steppe belt from the 8th to 1st century BC during the pre-Scythian, Scythian, and Early Xiongnu-Sarmatian periods. In this study, we evaluated mtDNA diversity in the Tagar population based on representative series (N = 79) belonging to all chronological stages of the culture. The Tagar population had a mixed mtDNA pool dominated by Western Eurasian haplogroups and subgroups (H, HV6, HV*, I, K, T, U2e, U4, U5a, and U*) and, to a lesser degree, Eastern Eurasian haplogroups (A*, A8, C*, C5, D, G2a, and F1b). The Tagar population showed a similar mtDNA pool structure to those of other Iron Age populations representing the “Scythian World.” We observed particularly high similarity between the Tagar and Classic Scythians from the North Pontic region. Our results support the assumption that genetic components introduced by Bronze Age migrants from Western Eurasia contributed to the formation of the genetic composition of Scythian period populations in Southern Siberia. Another important component of the Tagar mtDNA pool was autochthonous East Eurasian lineages, some of which (A8 and C4a2a) are potential markers of the westward genetic influence of the eastern populations of the Scythian period. Our results suggest a genetic continuity (at least partial) between the Early, Middle, and Late Tagar populations.

The dynamics of the composition of mtDNA haplotypes of the ancient population of the Altai Mountains from the early bronze age (3rd millennium BC) to the iron age (2nd–1st centuries BC)

The mtDNA polymorphism in representatives of various archaeological cultures of the Developed Bronze Age, Early Scythian, and Hunnish-Sarmatian periods was analyzed (N = 34). It detected the dominance of Western-Eurasian haplotypes (70.6%) in mtDNA samples from the representatives of the ancient population of the Early Bronze Age–Iron Age on the territory of Altai Mountains. Since the 8th to the 7th centuries BC, a sharp increase was revealed in the Eastern Eurasian haplogroups A, D, C, and Z (43.75%) as compared to previous cultures (16.7%). The presence of haplotype 223-242-290-319 of haplogroup A8 in Dolgans, Itelmens, Evens, Koryaks, and Yakuts indicates the possible long-term presence of its carriers in areas inhabited by these populations. The prevalence of western Eurasian haplotypes is observed not only in the Altai Mountains but also in Central Asia (Kazakhstan) and the south of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. All of the three studied samples from the Western Eurasian haplogroups were revealed to contain U, H, T, and HV. The ubiquitous presence of haplotypes of haplogroup H and some haplogroups of cluster U (U5a1, U4, U2e, and K) in the vast territory from the Yenisei River basin to the Atlantic Ocean may indicate the direction of human settlement, which most likely occurred in the Paleolithic Period from Central Asia.

The Vengerovo-2A Neolithic Cemetery, Southwestern Siberia: Results of a Multidisciplinary Study

The article addresses Neolithic burials at Vengerovo-2A in the Baraba forest-steppe. Funerary and ritual complexes includexa0a centrally located grave with an enclosing ditch separated into segments, which are oriented according to cardinal points. The funerary rite and the orientation of bodies are variable. A peculiar feature of this cemetery is that burials are of two kinds: (1) collective under mounds, arranged in special constructions with ditches, and (2) single without mounds. Reconstructed stages in the arrangement of burials were as follows: fi rst, a cup-like grave and a ditch delimiting the funerary space were dug. Next, the body was placed in the grave and possibly covered with earth. Then the remaining bodies were placed on top in several layers. The construction may have included a wooden roof. Finally, a low earthen mound was made above the grave. The Vengerovo burials resemble those at Protoka in the Baraba Plain. Funerary goods found at Vengerovo-2A were made of clay, bone, horn, and shells. Intact vessels are described. Those from the graves and ditches and those remaining from the funeral repast differ inxa0terms of paste and decoration. Based on the petrographic analysis of stone tools from Vengerovo and coeval sites in Western Siberia, pebbles were taken from the Irtysh alluvium. The absolute chronology of burials is compared with that of the Protoka burial ground and of the Avtodrom-2 and Serebryanka-1 settlements in Baraba. Vengerovo-2A dates to the Late Neolithic (6th–5th millennia BC). Its burial rite and pottery evidences a blend of several traditions, and the same applies to other Neolithic sites in northern Eurasia. Finds from Vengerovo are paralleled by those from the taiga area of Western Siberia and Eastern Ural as well as from the Baltic and Karelia. Cranially, Vengerovo people display the Northern Eurasian trait combination. This fact along with skeletal and paleogenetic findings places them within what can be described as the Uralian and Western Siberian Neolithic community.

A Genetic Analysis of Human Remains from the Bronze Age (2nd Millennium BC) Cemetery Bertek-56 in the Altai Mountains

A.S. Pilipenko1–3, V.I. Molodin2, 3, R.O. Trapezov1, 2, S.V. Cherdantsev1, and A.A. Zhuravlev1, 2 1Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia E-mail: alexpil@bionet.nsc.ru; Rostislav@bionet.nsc.ru; stephancherd@gmail.com; tos3550@bionet.nsc.ru 2Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia E-mail: molodin@archaeology.nsc.ru 3Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia