Massive migration from the steppe is a source for Indo-European languages in Europe

Abstract: We generated genome-wide data from 69 Europeans who lived between 8,000-3,000 years ago by enriching ancient DNA libraries for a target set of almost four hundred thousand polymorphisms. Enrichment of these positions decreases the sequencing required for genome-wide ancient DNA analysis by a median of around 250-fold, allowing us to study an order of magnitude more individuals than previous studies and to obtain new insights about the past. We show that the populations of western and far eastern Europe followed opposite trajectories between 8,000-5,000 years ago. At the beginning of the Neolithic period in Europe, ~8,000-7,000 years ago, closely related groups of early farmers appeared in Germany, Hungary, and Spain, different from indigenous hunter-gatherers, whereas Russia was inhabited by a distinctive population of hunter-gatherers with high affinity to a ~24,000 year old Siberian6 . By ~6,000-5,000 years ago, a resurgence of hunter-gatherer ancestry had occurred throughout much of Europe, but in Russia, the Yamnaya steppe herders of this time were descended not only from the preceding eastern European hunter-gatherers, but from a population of Near Eastern ancestry. Western and Eastern Europe came into contact ~4,500 years ago, as the Late Neolithic Corded Ware people from Germany traced ~3/4 of their ancestry to the Yamnaya, documenting a massive migration into the heartland of Europe from its eastern periphery. This steppe ancestry persisted in all sampled central Europeans until at least ~3,000 years ago, and is ubiquitous in present-day Europeans. These results provide support for the theory of a steppe origin of at least some of the Indo-European languages of Europe.

• The paper presents a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of ancient DNA to document a significant steppe migration into Europe.
• It employs targeted capture of about 390,000 SNPs to trace genetic shifts from the Late Mesolithic to the Bronze Age with high resolution.
• The findings support the Steppe Hypothesis, showing that migrating Yamnaya pastoralists introduced Proto-Indo-European languages and reshaped European genetic landscapes.

Massive Migration from the Steppe and Indo-European Languages

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of genome-wide data from ancient European populations, examining the genetic shifts that occurred in Europe from the Late Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. Utilizing advancements in ancient DNA technology, this study involves sequencing 69 individuals who lived between 8,000 and 3,000 years ago, shedding light on the complex interactions between different prehistoric populations. The findings provide significant insights into the origins of Indo-European languages in Europe, suggesting a notable migration event from the Eurasian steppe.

The study's methodological framework represents a significant effort in sequencing ancient DNA, by utilizing a targeted capture of approximately 390,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This approach substantially increased the resolution of genetic data and allowed for a finer analysis of population structures over time compared to previous studies. By examining the genetic make-up of individuals from various European and Russian archaeological sites, the authors were able to track population dynamics and the spread of genetic lineages.

One of the pivotal findings of this study is the identification of a substantial migration from the eastern European steppe to central Europe around 4,500 years ago. Genetic evidence supports that the Corded Ware culture from Germany traced a significant portion of their ancestry to Yamnaya steppe herders. These findings align with the 'Steppe Hypothesis', which postulates that Proto-Indo-European languages spread into Europe from the Eurasian steppe via migrating pastoralists. This migration replaced large parts of the genetic ancestry of existing European populations, contributing to the cultural and linguistic transformation of the region.

The genetic data reveal a persistent presence of steppe ancestry in Europeans, persisting through subsequent cultural phases and observable in modern European populations. The results also confirm that steppe-related haplogroups R1a and R1b, characteristic of modern European Y-chromosomal diversity, arose and spread across Europe during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.

The study further elucidates the population structure of pre-Bronze Age Europe, indicating notable genetic continuity and admixture events. It identifies a resurgence of western hunter-gatherer ancestry in Middle Neolithic and Late Neolithic Europeans, implying considerable interaction between migrating farmers and indigenous hunter-gatherers. Moreover, Yamnaya individuals displayed a mixture of Eastern European hunter-gatherer and Near Eastern/Caucasus-related ancestry, illustrating the complexity of genetic exchanges in prehistoric eras.

This research carries profound implications for understanding the prehistoric migration patterns that shaped European genetic and linguistic landscapes. Methodologically, it sets a new standard in ancient DNA studies by combining archaeological, genetic, and linguistic evidence to infer the processes behind language dispersal. The genetic continuity observed in the resurgence phases highlights the sustained influence of steppe-derived populations on Europe's genetic makeup.

The findings invite future research focusing on genetic data from regions such as southern Europe, the Caucasus, and the Near East to further clarify the broader implications of these migrations beyond Europe and into Asia. As new technologies and datasets emerge, they may offer finer resolution analyses, validating or refuting prevailing hypotheses regarding the initial Proto-Indo-European homeland and subsequent linguistic expansions.

In conclusion, this paper contributes significantly to the ongoing debate surrounding the origins of Indo-European languages and presents an empirically robust case for a massive migratory influx from the Eurasian steppe into Europe during the Late Neolithic, profoundly impacting both the genetic and cultural realms of the continent.