02-25-2024, 06:58 AM
EAA 2024 abstract...
Genomic transect of Early Medieval Moravia and Slovakia uncovers population turnover
In the 6th century, a population labeled as “Slavs” appeared in Central Europe. According to historical records, a principality connected to these people later existed in Moravia and neighboring territories. However, the processes leading to the formation of this principality are still debated due to the limited number of written records in this region and period. This is connected to a general question concerning a possible demographic turnover in this and surrounding regions. The hypothesis is challenging to address due to the cremation burial rite in key periods of the turnover and an extremely low number of genetically studied Slavic-related inhumations predating 1000 CE.
To provide insights into a proposed population turnover between the 5th and early 8th centuries CE, we investigate Migration Period and Early Medieval genomic data from Czechia and Slovakia where such material is available. This chronological transect clearly identifies a genetic shift in the region. Our findings support the hypothesis that the observable change in the material culture in this period was propagated by a demographic turnover with a significant impact on the later genetic diversity of the region.
Importantly, we also present genetic data from the oldest known inhumation connected to the Prague material culture (in its earlier phases associated with Prague-type pottery) that already evidences this demographic shift and hence points at genetic continuity from the 7th to the 10th century CE, to the period clearly connected to the “Slavs”. In the later period, we show tight genetic connectivity of the sites allowing us to study social structure of the newly formed society, though there are also influences of genetic components present already in the region previously.
Denisa Zlámalová
Jiří Macháček
Marek Hladík
Marian Mazuch
Lumír Poláček
Šárka Krupičková
Matej Ruttkay
Genomic transect of Early Medieval Moravia and Slovakia uncovers population turnover
In the 6th century, a population labeled as “Slavs” appeared in Central Europe. According to historical records, a principality connected to these people later existed in Moravia and neighboring territories. However, the processes leading to the formation of this principality are still debated due to the limited number of written records in this region and period. This is connected to a general question concerning a possible demographic turnover in this and surrounding regions. The hypothesis is challenging to address due to the cremation burial rite in key periods of the turnover and an extremely low number of genetically studied Slavic-related inhumations predating 1000 CE.
To provide insights into a proposed population turnover between the 5th and early 8th centuries CE, we investigate Migration Period and Early Medieval genomic data from Czechia and Slovakia where such material is available. This chronological transect clearly identifies a genetic shift in the region. Our findings support the hypothesis that the observable change in the material culture in this period was propagated by a demographic turnover with a significant impact on the later genetic diversity of the region.
Importantly, we also present genetic data from the oldest known inhumation connected to the Prague material culture (in its earlier phases associated with Prague-type pottery) that already evidences this demographic shift and hence points at genetic continuity from the 7th to the 10th century CE, to the period clearly connected to the “Slavs”. In the later period, we show tight genetic connectivity of the sites allowing us to study social structure of the newly formed society, though there are also influences of genetic components present already in the region previously.
Denisa Zlámalová
Jiří Macháček
Marek Hladík
Marian Mazuch
Lumír Poláček
Šárka Krupičková
Matej Ruttkay