A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Human mitochondrial DNA lineages in Iron-Age Fennoscandia suggest incipient admixture and eastern introduction of farming-related maternal ancestry




AuthorsÖversti S., Majander K., Salmela E., Salo K., Arppe L., Belskiy S., Etu-Sihvola H., Laakso V., Mikkola E., Pfrengle S., Putkonen M., Taavitsainen J.-P., Vuoristo K., Wessman A., Sajantila A., Oinonen M., Haak W., Schuenemann V.J., Krause J., Palo J.U., Onkamo P.

PublisherNATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Publication year2019

JournalScientific Reports

Journal name in sourceSCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Journal acronymSCI REP-UK

Article numberARTN 16883

Volume9

Number of pages14

ISSN2045-2322

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51045-8

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/44069742


Abstract
Human ancient DNA studies have revealed high mobility in Europe's past, and have helped to decode the human history on the Eurasian continent. Northeastern Europe, especially north of the Baltic Sea, however, remains less well understood largely due to the lack of preserved human remains. Finland, with a divergent population history from most of Europe, offers a unique perspective to hunter-gatherer way of life, but thus far genetic information on prehistoric human groups in Finland is nearly absent. Here we report 103 complete ancient mitochondrial genomes from human remains dated to AD 300-1800, and explore mtDNA diversity associated with hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers. The results indicate largely unadmixed mtDNA pools of differing ancestries from Iron-Age on, suggesting a rather late genetic shift from hunter-gatherers towards farmers in North-East Europe. Furthermore, the data suggest eastern introduction of farmer-related haplogroups into Finland, contradicting contemporary genetic patterns in Finns.

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Last updated on 2025-27-01 at 18:33