Publications by authors named "Susca R"
Being at the western fringe of Europe, Iberia had a peculiar prehistory and a complex pattern of Neolithization. A few studies, all based on modern populations, reported the presence of DNA of likely African origin in this region, generally concluding it was the result of recent gene flow, probably during the Islamic period. Here, we provide evidence of much older gene flow from Africa to Iberia by sequencing whole genomes from four human remains from northern Portugal and southern Spain dated around 4000 years BP (from the Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age).
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- From the first century AD, Europe experienced significant population movements known as Barbarian migrations, with the Longobard culture influencing a large area just not well understood.
- This study reports the analysis of 87 complete mitochondrial DNA sequences from cemeteries in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy linked to the Longobard migration.
- Findings suggest genetic similarities between Longobard individuals in different regions, indicating complex interactions and admixture between Longobard and neighboring communities during the early medieval period.
Article Synopsis
- The origin of Indo-European languages in Europe is debated, with two main theories: one suggests they spread from the Pontic steppes in the late Neolithic, while the other proposes an Early Neolithic spread from Anatolia.
- Analysis of DNA from the Globular Amphorae culture (GAC) shows closer genetic ties to earlier Neolithic groups than to populations related to the Pontic steppe migration, challenging the direct descent from the Yamnaya culture.
- The findings suggest that any eastern influences on the GAC were more about cultural exchange than significant migration of people from the Pontic steppes into Central Europe during the Late Neolithic.
Article Synopsis
- Little is known about Sardinia's genetic history due to a lack of ancient human remains before the Neolithic period.
- Modern Sardinians exhibit unique genetic characteristics, being closely related to early European farmers while showing high internal diversity.
- The study presents the oldest mitochondrial DNA from Sardinia, confirming a Mesolithic presence, but suggests that early inhabitants contributed little to modern Sardinian genetics, which mainly stems from Neolithic migrations.