Xiongnu DNA study

[Erpingham]

Another in our occassional series of archaeo-DNA approaches to ancient societies.  Warning : this is very technical and (IMO) is a bit disappointing in payoff.  But, if steppe empires are your thing, no doubt interesting.

[CarlL]

Cheers Anthony / Erpingham,

It's really interesting!

The Abstract states:

"The Xiongnu established the first nomadic imperial power, controlling the Eastern Eurasian steppe from ca. 200 BCE to 100 CE. Recent archaeogenetic studies identified extreme levels of genetic diversity across the empire, corroborating historical records of the Xiongnu Empire being multiethnic. " And
"Analyzing genome-wide data from 18 individuals, we show that genetic diversity within these communities was comparable to the empire as a whole, and that high diversity was also observed within extended families. "

And later the paper notes:

"Recently, a genome-wide study of 60 individuals from 27 Xiongnu sites found that this diversity was initially formed by the unification of two genetically distinct pastoralist populations in Mongolia—one descending from groups associated with the Deerstone Khirigsuur, Mönkhkhairkhan, and Sagly/Uyuk cultures in the west and the other the descendants of the Ulaanzuukh and Slab Grave cultures in the east—followed by additional population influx from other regions, most likely Sarmatia (near present-day Ukraine) and imperial China "

And

"here, we genetically investigate in detail a range of burials from the aristocratic elite cemetery of Takhiltyn Khotgor (TAK) and the local elite cemetery of Shombuuzyn Belchir (SBB), located at the far western frontier of the empire in Mongolia's present-day Khovd province. Analyzing the genome-wide data of 18 individuals from high and low-status burials, we show that both communities harbored an extremely high level of genetic diversity that is comparable to that of the Xiongnu Empire as a whole. "

Details include:

"THL-82 consists of a large central elite square tomb flanked by two satellite graves to its east and west (Fig. 1B). The tomb contained the remains of an adult female, TAK001, who was buried in a decorated wood-plank coffin with six horses, Chinese bronze chariot pieces, and a bronze spouted pot (19). The use of a wood-plank coffin, in strict adherence with elite Xiongnu political culture and rituals, is particularly noteworthy in this frontier context, as the large larch wood planks must have been imported at great effort and expense into this largely treeless mountain region (20). The satellite graves each contained an adult male interred in an earthen pit burial (TAK008 and TAK009), one of whom (TAK008) was interred in a prone (face-down) position, which differs from the supine (face-up) position that is more typical of Xiongnu burials. THL-64 consisted of a large central elite square tomb with two satellite graves on its eastern side (Fig. 1B). Like THL-82, the tomb also contained the remains of an adult female, TAK002, who was buried in a wood-plank coffin with one horse, four caprines (either sheep or goat), and a golden disc and crescent, representing the sun and moon (17). The satellite graves each contained an adolescent male (TAK003 and TAK004) buried in simple stone cists in a semi-flexed position, a position consistent with long-standing local mortuary traditions in western Mongolia (21). "

Other details depict the diversity of grave goods as well as the multi ethnicity suggested by DNA, for example: "Grave 19 contained the remains of a young adult female (SBB008) who had apparently died in childbirth; she was buried alongside an infant and wore a paste-bead necklace containing a faience bead depicting the phallus of Bes, an Egyptian god associated with the protection of children."

And there are many female graves and child graves with interesting artefacts of culture and war or the hunt like: "Grave 13 contained the remains of a middle-aged adult male (SBB001) buried with a bow, arrows, and spear. An adolescent (SBB011) buried in grave 12 was also buried with a bow, arrows, and spear, and a child (SBB009) buried in grave 26 was buried with a child-sized bow. "

The study (in essence) then tries to identify or label the ethnic or cultural origins associated with their DNA sampling and finds:
"Overall, the high genetic diversity found among the Xiongnu during all periods prevents any meaningful attempt to define a "representative" Xiongnu genetic profile, as it is instead population-level genetic heterogeneity spanning nearly the entire breadth of Eurasian genetic diversity that most characterizes the Xiongnu Empire."

Some of their findings include:

"In this genome-wide archaeogenetic study, we find high genetic heterogeneity among late Xiongnu-era individuals at two cemeteries located along the far western frontier of the Xiongnu empire and describe patterns of genetic diversity related to social status. Overall, we find that genetic heterogeneity is highest among lower-status individuals."

And quite interestingly (hope Annie at Bad Squiddo Games is reading this ... time for more female horse riding or chariot driving warriors with bows?)

"Last, our findings also confirm that the highest-status individuals in this study were females, supporting previous observations that Xiongnu women played an especially prominent role in the expansion and integration of new territories along the empire's frontier. "

CarlL

[Keraunos]

Thanks very much for the link to the paper, Anthony, and double thanks to Carl for the selection of extracts.  Fascinating. 

In recent years there have been two superb exhibitions here in Hong Kong, the first of findings from excavations in Afghanistan and Central Asia, showing the extraordinary craftsmanship and sophistication of steppe peoples, the second focussed more on the peoples to the north of China and their influence on Han civilisation - showing how much of the cultural exchange was from the steppes to the cities, not the other way around!