Annotation of the results obtained in 2016
Series of paleoanthropological samples from early nomads were increased to a total number of more than 750 (individuals) and the number of samples of total DNA (including multiple extracts from the same individual) exceeded 1100. Our collection of DNA samples and bone material, to our knowledge, is unique for the materials of the Scythian and Xiongnu-Sarmatian time. In 2016, the main studies of mtDNA gene pool were devoted to clarifying the structure of the gene pool in previously studied groups, increasing of series of analyzed mtDNA samples, specification and verification of the results obtained previously and additional data analysis using statistical tools of population genetics. Fundamentally new and priority data on Y-chromosome lineages variation in the gene pool of several populations were obtained in 2016. This allowed us to characterize the male component of the gene pool of the studied groups. The obtained series of Y-chromosome samples (44 samples) exceeds in number of all male gene pool data from population of the Scythian and Xiongnu-Sarmatian periods from studied regions, published to date. Analysis of data on both uniparental markers allowed us to obtain a number of important inferences about the studied populations. The similarity of the mtDNA pool structure among the Transbaikalian Xiongnu and modern Mongolian-speaking populations of Central Asia was revealed. The Xiongnu Y-chromosome pool includes phylogeographycally various clusters. First results on the mtDNA pool structure were obtained for several groups, such as Xiongnu-time population of Tuva and Jetyasar culture of Kazakhstan. Migration of the eastern nomadic groups to the west beyond their original area, apparently, accompanied by intensive genetic interaction with the indigenous populations of the new regions. We confirmed the genetic continuity between different chronological groups of Tagar culture. The gene pool of Tashtyk culture was formed on the basis of a previous local population (Tagar Tes group) and group migrated from the eastern regions (but probably Xiongnu-unrelated). Low diversity of the Y-chromosome pool was revealed for Tagar population. The Tagar male gene pool was related with the Bronze Age Andronovo culture. The population of Western Siberian Sargat culture differs from the Sarmatians of Lower Volga region by the structure of mtDNA and Y-chromosome gene pools. East Eurasian lineages of mtDNA were revealed in all chronological groups of the Lower Volga Sarmatians with an overall frequency of ~ 15%. The East Eurasian Y-chromosome lineages were not revealed in Sarmatians to date. New models on the degree of kinship in collective burials were analyzed including Ak-Alakha-5 Pazyryk burial ground and multiple burials under one Sargat culture mound. It was shown that a close relationship was not a stringent criterion for the burial of individuals in the same chain of the Pazyryk mounds. On the contrary, the relationship of individuals, apparently, was important for the burial of individuals under one mound of the Sargat culture.

 

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Annotation of the results obtained in 2014
We collected samples of paleo-anthropological material suitable for molecular genetic studies from the remains of representatives of the three chronological stages of Sarmatian population from the Lower Volga region (Volgograd region), Tagar and Tashtyk population Minusinsk basin (totally about 300 samples). Samples of total DNA from 100 individuals from the groups listed above and sequences of mtDNA HVRI from more than 50 individuals were obtained. The data show the dominance of West Eurasian mtDNA variants in the gene pool of the Sarmatian population. Part of the West Eurasian options reflect the genetic relationships of the Sarmatians with the Near East. We found a single line of mtDNA, which may be marked influence on the Late Eastern nomadic population. Data on the structure of the mtDNA gene pool of the Tagar population evidence of its origin as a result of the interaction between genetically contrasting components of Western and Eastern Eurasian origin. The obtained preliminary results are not consistent with the traditional scheme, according to which in the final stages of the Tagar culture is enhanced Xiongnu influence on the population Minusinsk basin. Strong East Eurasian component was characteristic of the gene pool of the population of all stages of the Tagar culture. The first data on the gene pool of mtDNA Tashtyk culture Minusinsk basin. The structure of mtDNA samples from the remains of representatives of the nobility of the Sarmatians (burial Filippovka) and Pazyryks (Pazyryk burial).

 

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Annotation of the results obtained in 2015
Our collection of paleoanthropological samples from ancient individuals for this research project has been doubled (600 individuals) by increasing series of Sarmatian population from Lower Volga region (more than 3-fold), increasing the series from Tagar population of Minusinsk Basin, Xiongnu samples from the Tuva, Jetyasar culture of Kazakhstan, including to the project of materials Transbaikalian Xiongnu and the Pazyrykians from the Altai Mountains. This collection jf samples is one of the most representative in the world for this chronological period. We obtained a collection of DNA samples of the total number of over 700 extracts from the remains of about 400 individuals. MtDNA HVSI sequencing for 144 samples (55 Sarmatians, 67 - Tagar culture, 22 - Tashtyk culture) was carry out. These data exceed all previously received and published ancient DNA results concerning these ancient groups. For part of the samples, the data on the informative positions in the coding region of mtDNA were obtained. The data verification and analysis of the positions in the coding region of mtDNA were also carried out in samples from Transbaikalian Xiongnu. According to experimental data, the total volume of our work has no close analogues. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of the mtDNA data obtained were carried out, including the intra-group and inter-group comparison. The formation of the Xiongnu population based on east- eurasian components with Central Asian and Southern Siberian origin were suggested? And the specific genetic markers of the Xiongnu were detected. A complex mtDNA pool structure of Tagar, Tashtyk and Pazyryk groups were obtained. Their similarity of these groups is in the presence of similar parts of West-Eurasian and East-Eurasian origin. The origin of Western Eurasian component of mtDNA gene pool of populations from Minusinsk basin related with migration in the region during the Bronze Age, especially with the migration wave of Andronovo (Fedorovo) population. The difference between the Pazyryk population and populations of Minusinsk basin is in the presence of a component of the Persian / Near Eastern origin (that absent in the Tagar group). We detected the absence of significant shifts in the mtDNA pool composition of Saragash and Tes groups, compared with the early (Podgornovo). In general, we can say that genetic continuity is the main feature of the populations of the Tagar culture for several centuries. This contradicts the hypothesis about the growth of genetic components of the Xiongnu (or related populations) origin in the gene pool of Tagar population during the transition from early to middle, and in particular later stage. The similar genetic continuity can be stated and the comparison Tagar and later Tashtyk population. The vast majority of Sarmatian mtDNA variants represented by western-eurasian haplogroups. This is complemented by a pronounced dominance of the two haplogroup - T and H (a feature that brings Sarmatian population with Tagar group). However, some versions of haplogroup H, as well as the line U7 and haplogroup J, have clear the Persian / Near Eastern origin, which confirms the involvement of the Iranian-speaking tribes in the composition of the genetic composition of Sarmatian (this one, apparently, was not the dominant factor). This feature distinguishes the Sarmatian and Tagar populations. In general, we can conclude a great similarity of mtDNA gene pool structure of the Sarmatian from different periods, based on the composition of the major haplogroups. We have identified a few lineages of haplogroup C (in the early Sarmatians) and A (in the middle Sarmatians). These lineages mark the entry of east-eurasian components in the mtDNA gene pool of the Sarmatian, composed mainly of the lineages with western and south-western origin. Surprise of the results is that the presence of the Eastern mtDNA lineages recorded in the early and middle, but not in the later Sarmatians. This situation is contrary to our expectations. Already we can say beforehand that the results do not support the assumptions about the mass penetration of East Eurasian nomads in Sarmatian populations. We also do not yet have the option of mtDNA, which would allow (because of its specificity) accurately identify the source of the eastern component penetrated into the gene pool of the Sarmatian population. Some characteristics of a number of Sarmatian mtDNA variants suggest that this eastern influence could be carried out through a much more southern areas such as the southern part of Kazakhstan. In connection with this is particularly significant to study of the gene pool of the population of Jetyasar culture. Compare of the Sarmatian and Sargat population gene pools revealed significant differences between them. Although the gene pool of the Sargat population is also predominantly west-eurasian and substantially (greater than the Sarmatians) has a share of the gene pool of Near/ Middle Eastern origin, our data argue against assumptions about the origin of Sargat population as a result of migration to the region of Sarmatians or related tribes. Southern component in these populations is very different in haplogroup composition. We can assume different local sources of these componenets for the two populations. A very important difference is the almost complete absence of haplogroup T variants in Sargat population, with the dominance of this haplogroup in the gene pool of the Sarmatians. The resulting data is currently not possible to consider Sargat and Sarmatian populations as having a common genetic basis and roots, despite the similarity of the mechanisms of formation (in particular, the influence of the southern groups). Thus, at this stage of the project we were able to look at the integral genetic diversity of ancient nomadic groups of different regions of the Eurasian steppes in the Xiongnu-Sarmatian period in terms of the variability of mtDNA that has yielded a number of new scientific results. The series of samples of more than 50 that are suitable for analyzing the structure of the Y-chromosome (with confirmed genetically floor and a high degree of safety of nuclear DNA) from all major groups studied in the project was obtained. The first data on the Y-chromosome polymorphism (STR-loci profiles of the Y-chromosome) for samples from all series were obtained in 2015. These first data suggest that in the gene pool Xiongnu there are haplogroups characteristic of eastern Eurasia, Pazyryk and Tagar groups - lineages that are typical of central and northern Eurasia, as well as presented at the west of the continent. Thus, the first results on the Y-chromosome data do not contradict the female part of the gene pool, but they can not be supplemented, as the data is too short. Study of the remains of the two Pazyryk culture individuals from an elite burial mound 1 from Ak-Alakha-1 site (Ukok Plateau, Altai Mountains, Russia) yielded some interesting results: 1. The sex of both buried individuals was defined as male. Thus, we are dealing with a paired burial Pazyryk male warriors, not the burial of men and women, as previously thought. 2. Men were carriers of the same variants of mtDNA and Y-chromosome, which clearly speaks in favor of their relationship. 3. Analysis of autosomal STR-markers indicates the absence of a direct relationship. This work demonstrates the necessity of implementation the genetic methods to archaeological reconstructions of the burial rites and relatives of the buried individuals, that will bring a new objective level of a whole section of archaeological science. Thus, we have obtained scientific results are important for understanding the genetic aspects of the history of the nomadic population of Eurasia in Xiongnu-Sarmatian period, for reconstruction and comprehensive picture of population processes in Eurasia in the chronological period under study.

 

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