Population genomics of postglacial 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 , Paulsson Bettina Schulz , Halgren Alma , Macleod Ruairidh , Schjellerup Jørkov Marie Louise , Demeter Fabrice , Sørensen Lasse , Nielsen Poul Otto , Henriksen Rasmus A. , Vimala Tharsika , McColl Hugh , Margaryan Ashot , Ilardo Melissa , Vaughn Andrew , Mortensen Morten Fischer , Nielsen Anne Birgitte , Hede Mikkel Ulfeldt , Johannsen Niels Nørkjær , Rasmussen Peter , Vinner Lasse , Renaud Gabriel , Stern Aaron , Trolle Jensen Theis Zetner , 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 , Nielsen Bjarne Henning , 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 , Petersen Erik Brinch , Kannegaard Esben , Radina Francesca , Yediay Fulya Eylem , 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 , Pedersen Kristoffer Buck , 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 , Barros Damgaard Peter de , Petersen Peter Vang , 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 , Merz Victor , Appadurai Vivek , Moiseyev Vyacheslav , Magnusson Yvonne , Kjær Kurt H. , Lynnerup Niels , Lawson Daniel J. , Sudmant Peter H. , Rasmussen Simon , Korneliussen Thorfinn , Durbin Richard , Nielsen Rasmus , Delaneau Olivier , Werge Thomas , Racimo Fernando , Kristiansen Kristian , Willerslev Eske 
Published: May 2022

Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene1–5. To investigate the cross-continental impacts we shotgun-sequenced 317 primarily Mesolithic and Neolithic genomes from across Northern and Western Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data to obtain diploid genotypes from >1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘Great Divide’ genomic boundary extending from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (HGs) were highly genetically differentiated east and west of this zone, and the impact of the neolithisation was equally disparate. Large-scale ancestry shifts occurred in the west as farming was introduced, including near-total replacements of HGs 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, while east of the Urals relatedness remained high until ∼4,000 BP, consistent with persistence of localised HG groups. The boundary dissolved when Yamnaya-related ancestry spread across western Eurasia around 5,000 BP 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 demonstrate that HGs 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.