Ancient genomes from northern China suggest links between subsistence changes and human migration

 

Abstract

Northern China harbored the world’s earliest complex societies based on millet farming, in two major centers in the Yellow (YR) and West Liao (WLR) River basins. Until now, their genetic histories have remained largely unknown. Here we present 55 ancient genomes dating to 7500-1700 BP from the YR, WLR, and Amur River (AR) regions. Contrary to the genetic stability in the AR, the YR and WLR genetic profiles substantially changed over time. The YR populations show a monotonic increase over time in their genetic affinity with present-day southern Chinese and Southeast Asians. In the WLR, intensification of farming in the Late Neolithic is correlated with increased YR affinity while the inclusion of a pastoral economy in the Bronze Age was correlated with increased AR affinity. Our results suggest a link between changes in subsistence strategy and human migration, and fuel the debate about archaeolinguistic signatures of past human migration.

On Haplogroup Q

Native American Branch

Q-M3 > Q-M848 are the main native american lineages. TMRCA of Q-M3 is 12600 YBP. However a parallel but upstream lineage Q-M1107 TMRCA 15400 YBP is also found in natives. Both Q-M3 and Q-M1107 come from Q-L54 ultimately. Q-M3 comes from Q-M930 but the latter has some European exclusive lineages too. Q-M3 is also known as Q1a2a1a1. 

Indian Branches

1. Q-L275 or Q3 is found in India. Oldest sample with it is an Afanasievo Altai one C2034 ~ 2500 BCE from Kumar et al 2022. Subclade is Q-NGQ1. Then a few ones from Xinjiang, one Chemurchek and the Sappali Tepe outlier that is Indian like in admixture I7493 context dated 2000-1600 BCE is also Q3 (Q-Z19128 / TMRCA 3699 BCE). Then we get 2 people from Loebanr who carry it (I13228, I5400) dated to approx 1000-800 BCE. They are on the a clade downstream from Q-Z19128. Abusanteer 7 from Kumar et al or C4272 also carries Q-Y2265 (the sample is dated to 700-200 BCE). One of the historical Saidu Sharif samples I7718 also carries Q-L275, subclade is Q-Z19128 same as the Sappali Tepe outlier. Finally, Roopkund 53 or I6939 also carries Q-L275 > Q-L245. 

Now, looking at the modern data for Q-L275 at Y-full and FT-DNA. Q-Z19128 is only shared between Turkics and South Asians. Probably a non-WSH/Afanasievo derived line? Otoh, Q-NGQ1 > Q-M378 is found in Europeans as well as South-Central Asians. It's also found in one Afanasievo sample, and one Xinjiang EBA steppe sample. The Abusanteer 7 clade Q-Y2265 is found in a shit load of South Asians and one Turk, one Chinese Tajik on Y-full.

On Y-full, Q-Y2200 2500ybp formed, TMRCA 1500 ybp seems to be a uniquely Balto-Slavic clade, found in some Israeli Yiddish speakers too. This is the only European exclusive branch of Q-L275 I've found there.

2. The main East Asian Q-clade is Q-Y647 (Q > Q-L472 > Q-Y570 > Q-M120 > Q-Y647) and it has a TMRCA of 4000 BCE. 

relevant papers

1. Q3-L275 phylogeography

2. Q-M848 phylogeography