Genetic study North Pontic crossroads: Mobility in Ukraine from the Bronze Age to the early modern period

[Tautalus]

Abstract

The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration, connecting the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7000 BCE to 1800 CE to study migration and mobility history in the region, with a particular focus on historically attested migrating groups during the Iron Age and the medieval period. We infer a high degree of temporal heterogeneity in ancestry, with fluctuating genetic affinities to different present-day Eurasian groups. We also infer high heterogeneity in ancestry within geographically, culturally, and socially defined groups. Despite this, we find that ancestry components which are widespread in Eastern and Central Europe have been present in the Ukraine region since the Bronze Age. In short, our study reveals a diverse range of ancestries in the Ukraine region through time as a result of frequent movements, assimilation, and contacts.​

North Pontic crossroads: Mobility in Ukraine from the Bronze Age to the early modern period - PMC

The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration, connecting the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7000 BCE to ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Schematic of migrating groups from the west and the east in Ukraine based on archaeological material.

Map of the geographical locations of the individuals of this study and timeline showing the dates of individuals in archaeological groups.

mtDNA and Y chromosome haplogroups of the individuals of this study.

Individual	Region	Group	Date	Sex	MT hg	Y hg
UKR008	Zaporizhzhia	UkrN_?	7000–6000 BCE	XY	U4c2	R1b-V88
UKR055	Kharkiv	UkrBA_Zrubna	1873–1566 cal BCE	XX	H5a1	–
UKR170	Ternopil	UkrFBA/EIA_Vysotska_Early	1300–800 BCE	XY	U2e2a1	R1a-M198
UKR171	Ternopil	UkrFBA/EIA_Vysotska_Early	1278–1055 cal BCE	XY	U5a1a2b	R1a-M459
UKR149	Mykolaiv	UkrFBA_Bilozerska_Pre-Cimmerian	1200–1000 BCE	XX	U4a1	–
UKR150	Mykolaiv	UkrFBA_Bilozerska_Pre-Cimmerian	1200–1000 BCE	XY	N1a1a1a1	R1a-M198
UKR066	Kharkiv	UkrFBA/EIA_Cimmerian	1195–919 cal BCE	XY	HV1a1a	Q1b-YP4000
UKR167	Volyn	UkrFBA/EIA_Lusatian	1000–700 BCE	XX	J1c3g	–
UKR168	Volyn	UkrFBA/EIA_Lusatian	1000–700 BCE	XX	K1a4a1e	–
UKR169	Volyn	UkrFBA/EIA_Lusatian	1000–700 BCE	XY	H1an1	R1a-M459
UKR000	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt_2	900–798 cal BCE	XX	U4a2a	–
UKR001	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt	900–700 BCE	XX	K1a	–
UKR002	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt	900–700 BCE	XY	U5b1a	C1a-Z38888
UKR005	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt	900–700 BCE	XY	T2	?
UKR006	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt	900–700 BCE	XX	U5a1h	–
UKR007	Odesa	UkrEIA_ThracianHallstatt	996–831 cal BCE	XY	T1a1	E1b-V13
UKR035AB	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr	700–600 BCE	XY	U5a1g1	R1a-Z283
UKR036	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr_2	773–426 cal BCE	XY	C4b	R1a-Z645
UKR039	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr	700–600 BCE	XY	U5a1a1a	R1a-M420
UKR042	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr	779–539 cal BCE	XX	T2a2	–
UKR043	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr	700–600 BCE	XX	U5a2b	–
UKR044	Kyiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_RightDnipro_IllThr	700–600 BCE	XX	H6a1b	–
UKR078	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_IllThr	755–408 cal BCE	XX	H6a1b	–
UKR083	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocAgr	500–300 BCE	XY	U4d3	R1a-M198
UKR087	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocEl	650–600 BCE	XX	H3v+	–
UKR088	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocEl	761–420 cal BCE	XX	U2b	–
UKR089	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocEl	500–300 BCE	XY	H+152	E1b-V13
UKR090	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocEl	400–300 BCE	XY	H11a1	E1b-V13
UKR091	Poltava	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocEl	500–400 BCE	XY	H+152	E1b-V13
UKR095	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocAgr	389–204 cal BCE	XY	J2b1a2a	R1a-Z93
UKR096	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_LeftDnipro_LocAgr_2	382–199 cal BCE	XX	T2a1a	–
UKR105	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	798–552 cal BCE	XY	J1d6	R1a-YP5018
UKR101	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	400–300 BCE	XX	I1a1	–
UKR114	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom_2	500–400 BCE	XX	H4a1c	–
UKR104	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	500–350 BCE	XY	H6a1b	R1a-Z645
UKR109	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	400–300 BCE	XY	H5a1	Q1b-L330
UKR110	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	400–300 BCE	XY	U3a1b	R1b-Z2105
UKR111	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom_2	775–540 cal BCE	XY	K2	R1a-YP5018
UKR113	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_Nom	650–550 BCE	XY	HV0a	Q1b-L330
UKR116	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_NomEl_3	775–516 cal BCE	XY	U2e1f1	R1a-Z645
UKR131	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_NomEl	500–300 BCE	XY	I1c1a	R1b-M269
UKR132	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_NomEl	500–300 BCE	XY	X2f	R1b-L23
UKR133	Kharkiv	UkrEIA_Scythian_SivDon_NomEl	500–300 BCE	XY	T1b	R1b-Z2105
UKR013	Zaporizhzhia	UkrEIA_Scythian_NBlaSea_Nom	400–300 BCE	XX	HV2a3	–
UKR014	Zaporizhzhia	UkrEIA_Scythian_NBlaSea_Nom	400–300 BCE	XY	I4a	R1a-Z645
UKR152	Mykolaiv	UkrEIA_Antiquity_Greeks?_1	392–206 cal BCE	XY	HV1b	E1b-V13
UKR153	Mykolaiv	UkrEIA_Antiquity_Greeks?_2	746–401 cal BCE	XY	W6b	R1a-M459
UKR174	Ternopil	UkrEIA_?	359–104 cal BCE	XX	HV2	–
UKR051	Crimea	UkrEIA_LateScythian_Cri_Nom	150–1 BCE	XX	U7a3a*	–
UKR052	Crimea	UkrEIA_LateScythian_Cri_Nom	150–1 BCE	XY	R1a1a	R1b-M269
UKR053	Crimea	UkrEIA_LateScythian_Cri_Nom	150–1 BCE	XX	HV1a1	–
UKR160	Kharkiv	UkrIA_Sarmatian_SivDon	1–300 CE	XX	H16+	–
UKR045	Cherkasy	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	300–400 CE	XX	U4c1	–
UKR047	Cherkasy	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	300–400 CE	XX	H2a2a	–
UKR049	Chernivtsi	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_3	169–338 cal CE	XX	HV0a	–
UKR102	Kharkiv	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	300–400 CE	XY	H26	E1b-V13
UKR121	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	300–400 CE	XX	H1	–
UKR122	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_1	300–400 CE	XX	K1b2b	–
UKR123	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	300–400 CE	XY	H7	R1a-Z93
UKR125	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_1	300–400 CE	XX	K1a4a1b	–
UKR126	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_1	131–325 cal CE	XY	H1a3	R1a-Z645
UKR128	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_2	229–361 cal CE	XX	K1a+	–
UKR129	Poltava	UkrIA_Chernyakhiv_1	245–401 cal CE	XX	K1c2	–
UKR134	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_2	800–900 CE	XX	A16	–
UKR135	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_1	800–900 CE	XY	A+	R1b-L23
UKR136	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_1	800–900 CE	XY	W3	R1b-M269
UKR137	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_2	800–900 CE	XY	F2c1	C2a-Y11606
UKR138	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_1	800–900 CE	XY	H27+	R1b-Z2105
UKR139	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Alans_1	671–874 cal CE	XX	W6	–
UKR143	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Bulgars_1	800–900 CE	XX	U5a1a1	–
UKR144	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Bulgars_2	671–874 cal CE	XX	B4c1a2a	–
UKR147	Kharkiv	UkrEMA_Saltiv_Bulgars_1	683–883 cal CE	XY	D4	R1a-M417
UKR012	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Cuman	1100-1430 CE	XY	J1b1b1	R1a-Z645
UKR027	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Cuman	1100-1200 CE	XY	H5a1	N1a-Y10755
UKR056	Kharkiv	UkrMA_Cuman_2	991–1149 cal CE	XX	B5b2a2	–
UKR166	Lviv	UkrMA_WhiteCroat_Slavs	1100–1300 CE	XX	H1a	–
UKR068	Kharkiv	UkrMA_GoldenHorde_Slav/Nom?	1200–1400 CE	XX	U5b1e1a	–
UKR069	Kharkiv	UkrMA_GoldenHorde_Slav/Nom?	1200–1400 CE	XY	X2d1a	R1b-Z2105
UKR070	Kharkiv	UkrMA_GoldenHorde_Slav/Nom?	1200–1400 CE	XY	U5a1a1a	?
UKR063	Kharkiv	UkrMA_GoldenHorde_Nom	1300–1400 CE	XX	U2e1b	–
UKR074	Donetsk	UkrMA_GoldenHorde_Nom	1200–1400 CE	XX	A1a	–
UKR028	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Post-Cuman_Cuman?	1300–1400 CE	XX	J1c2e1	–
UKR016	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_1	1400–1500 CE	XY	M7c1a1a1	R1b-Y14051
UKR017	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_2	1400–1500 CE	XY	C4a1a4a	C2a-M504
UKR018	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_3	1400–1500 CE	XX	B4d1'2'3	–
UKR020	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_2	1400–1500 CE	XY	M7b1a1a1	J1a-Y5321
UKR021	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_3	1400–1500 CE	XX	C4a1a4a	–
UKR022	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_2	1400–1500 CE	XX	U2e2a1a2	–
UKR024	Zaporizhzhia	UkrMA_Nogai_1	1400–1500 CE	XY	M65a+	G2a-Z6679
UKR164	Chernigiv	UkrEM_Cossack_Slavs	1600–1800 CE	XX	H3a1	–
UKR165	Chernigiv	UkrEM_Cossack_Slavs	1600–1800 CE	XX	U4a2b	–

 

[Pfam70]

The North Pontic area of present day Ukraine is a well attested crossroads, and also a wellspring of outgoing migration (think Mallory Yamnaya migrations, Slavic migrations). However, the North Pontic area also has continuity, as you note, especially on the fringes away from the steppe highway. The genetic diversity of modern day Ukraine, I believe, is relatively pronounced and heterogeneous.

My family R1b y-chromosome can be precisely located to the northwest corner of the confluence of the Zbruch and Dniester Rivers, which I assume was an ancient homeland area for the local Christian populations. I've looked at the R1b tree on Family Tree DNA for my R1b profile, and it is an early root U-152+ branch that I think is pre-migration of this profile. I think a lot of root branches originated in this area going both northwest and southwest out of the Dniester River area. I've requested my Family Tree DNA profile be added to the tree linking to myself. It appears to be clearly pre-migration, and not back migration to the region.

I do think the North Pontic region in present day Ukraine carries a lot of pronounced genetic diversity that is a testament to it's position of both a crossroads and original source.

 

[Anfänger]

Just noticed that a late Scythian sample from Crimea caries my MtDNA-Haplpgroup U7. The sample is named UKR051, a female. Not very surprising, because the Scythians were Northern Iranics.