Population genomics of post-glacial western Eurasia
Authors: Allentoft Morten E. , Sikora Martin , Refoyo-Martínez Alba , Irving-Pease Evan K. , Fischer Anders , Barrie William , Ingason Andrés , Stenderup Jesper , Sjögren Karl-Göran , Pearson Alice , Sousa da Mota Bárbara , Schulz Paulsson Bettina , Halgren Alma , Macleod Ruairidh , Jørkov Marie Louise Schjellerup , Demeter Fabrice , Sørensen Lasse , Nielsen Poul Otto , Henriksen Rasmus A. , Vimala Tharsika , McColl Hugh , Margaryan Ashot , Ilardo Melissa , Vaughn Andrew , Fischer Mortensen Morten , Nielsen Anne Birgitte , Ulfeldt Hede Mikkel , Johannsen Niels Nørkjær , Rasmussen Peter , Vinner Lasse , Renaud Gabriel , Stern Aaron , Jensen Theis Zetner Trolle , Scorrano Gabriele , Schroeder Hannes , Lysdahl Per , Ramsøe Abigail Daisy , Skorobogatov Andrei , Schork Andrew Joseph , Rosengren Anders , Ruter Anthony , Outram Alan , Timoshenko Aleksey A. , Buzhilova Alexandra , Coppa Alfredo , Zubova Alisa , Silva Ana Maria , Hansen Anders J. , Gromov Andrey , Logvin Andrey , Gotfredsen Anne Birgitte , Henning Nielsen Bjarne , González-Rabanal Borja , Lalueza-Fox Carles , McKenzie Catriona J. , Gaunitz Charleen , Blasco Concepción , Liesau Corina , Martinez-Labarga Cristina , Pozdnyakov Dmitri V. , Cuenca-Solana David , Lordkipanidze David O. , En’shin Dmitri , Salazar-García Domingo C. , Price T. Douglas , Borić Dušan , Kostyleva Elena , Veselovskaya Elizaveta V. , Usmanova Emma R. , Cappellini Enrico , Brinch Petersen Erik , Kannegaard Esben , Radina Francesca , Eylem Yediay Fulya , Duday Henri , Gutiérrez-Zugasti Igor , Merts Ilya , Potekhina Inna , Shevnina Irina , Altinkaya Isin , Guilaine Jean , Hansen Jesper , Aura Tortosa Joan Emili , Zilhão João , Vega Jorge , Buck Pedersen Kristoffer , Tunia Krzysztof , Zhao Lei , Mylnikova Liudmila N. , Larsson Lars , Metz Laure , Yepiskoposyan Levon , Pedersen Lisbeth , Sarti Lucia , Orlando Ludovic , Slimak Ludovic , Klassen Lutz , Blank Malou , González-Morales Manuel , Silvestrini Mara , Vretemark Maria , Nesterova Marina S. , Rykun Marina , Rolfo Mario Federico , Szmyt Marzena , Przybyła Marcin , Calattini Mauro , Sablin Mikhail , Dobisíková Miluše , Meldgaard Morten , Johansen Morten , Berezina Natalia , Card Nick , Saveliev Nikolai A. , Poshekhonova Olga , Rickards Olga , Lozovskaya Olga V. , Gábor Olivér , Uldum Otto Christian , Aurino Paola , Kosintsev Pavel , Courtaud Patrice , Ríos Patricia , Mortensen Peder , Lotz Per , Persson Per , Bangsgaard Pernille , de Barros Damgaard Peter , Vang Petersen Peter , Martinez Pilar Prieto , Włodarczak Piotr , Smolyaninov Roman V. , Maring Rikke , Menduiña Roberto , Badalyan Ruben , Iversen Rune , Turin Ruslan , Vasilyev Sergey , Wåhlin Sidsel , Borutskaya Svetlana , Skochina Svetlana , Sørensen Søren Anker , Andersen Søren H. , Jørgensen Thomas , Serikov Yuri B. , Molodin Vyacheslav I. , Smrcka Vaclav , Merts Victor , Appadurai Vivek , Moiseyev Vyacheslav , Magnusson Yvonne , Kjær Kurt H. , Lynnerup Niels , Lawson Daniel J. , Sudmant Peter H. , Rasmussen Simon , Korneliussen Thorfinn Sand , Durbin Richard , Nielsen Rasmus , Delaneau Olivier , Werge Thomas , Racimo Fernando , Kristiansen Kristian , Willerslev Eske 
Published: January 2024

Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene1–5. Here, to investigate the cross-continental effects of these migrations, we shotgun-sequenced 317 genomes—mainly from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods—from across northern and western Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data to obtain diploid genotypes from more than 1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘great divide’ genomic boundary extending from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were highly genetically differentiated east and west of this zone, and the effect of the neolithization was equally disparate. Large-scale ancestry shifts occurred in the west as farming was introduced, including near-total replacement of hunter-gatherers in many areas, whereas no substantial ancestry shifts happened east of the zone during the same period. Similarly, relatedness decreased in the west from the Neolithic transition onwards, whereas, east of the Urals, relatedness remained high until around 4,000bp, consistent with the persistence of localized groups of hunter-gatherers. The boundary dissolved when Yamnaya-related ancestry spread across western Eurasia around 5,000bp, resulting in a second major turnover that reached most parts of Europe within a 1,000-year span. The genetic origin and fate of the Yamnaya have remained elusive, but we show that hunter-gatherers from the Middle Don region contributed ancestry to them. Yamnaya groups later admixed with individuals associated with the Globular Amphora culture before expanding into Europe. Similar turnovers occurred in western Siberia, where we report new genomic data from a ‘Neolithic steppe’ cline spanning the Siberian forest steppe to Lake Baikal. These prehistoric migrations had profound and lasting effects on the genetic diversity of Eurasian populations.