Introduction
The Jewish people, dispersed across continents yet culturally cohesive, have long maintained traditions of shared ancestry and origin in ancient Israel. With the advent of ancient DNA analysis, science now confirms what history, oral tradition, and identity have claimed for millennia: the genetic continuity of Jewish populations from the ancient Levant into medieval Europe — and through them, to many modern Jews today.
Ancient Roots, Medieval Lives
Recent studies published in bioRxiv (Waldman et al., 2022) and Current Biology (Brace et al., 2022) provide unprecedented insight into the genetic makeup of Jewish individuals who lived in medieval Germany and England. Samples from Erfurt (ca. 1350 CE) and Norwich (ca. 1180 CE) exhibit unmistakable signs of ancestry originating in the Southern Levant. This evidence places the core of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in ancient Israelite populations, supporting the historical narrative of migration following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem.
Shared Origins Across Europe
The DNA of individuals such as I13862, I13864, and I14738 from medieval Erfurt, and SB605 or SB676 from Norwich, demonstrate remarkable genetic similarity to one another and to modern Ashkenazi Jews. All carry a major Levantine ancestral component, which appears consistent and stable across space (Germany, England) and time (from the 12th to 14th centuries CE).
But alongside this core ancestry, we also detect a signature of admixture with surrounding European populations. This is especially evident in components reflecting Southern European (likely Italian or Iberian) and Central to Northeastern European ancestries.
The Southern European Phase
Genomic signals from many Erfurt samples — as well as modern Ashkenazi Jews — suggest an intermediate phase in Southern Europe, particularly in Italy. This is in line with historical records of Jewish presence in the Roman Empire, where communities flourished in Rome, Naples, and Sicily. It’s during this phase (roughly 1st–8th centuries CE) that gene flow from local Southern European populations (e.g., Italians or Greeks) likely occurred, blending with the core Near Eastern ancestry.
North and East: The Ashkenazi Expansion
Later, as Jewish populations moved into the Rhineland and Poland, additional European genetic layers were added — this time from Central and Northeastern Europe. Yet, even with these inputs, the Levantine genetic signal remained dominant. The Norwich and Erfurt individuals show little evidence of full assimilation with local Christian populations, maintaining a genetic identity distinct from their non-Jewish neighbors.
A Mosaic Anchored in Israel
What emerges is a compelling picture: Ashkenazi Jews are a diasporic population with multiple layers of European admixture, yet anchored by a persistent and dominant Near Eastern core. This genetic mosaic tells the story of a people shaped by migration, interaction, and resilience — without losing sight of their origin.
Conclusion: A Continuity Defying Time
The combination of these ancient genomes and modern data illustrates that the Ashkenazi Jewish population is not a product of local European conversion but rather a genetically continuous group whose origins trace back to ancient Judea. Southern European and Northeastern admixture, while significant, does not dilute this core; it simply reflects the long, dynamic journey of a diaspora that has remained biologically — and spiritually — connected to its roots.
In the DNA of medieval Jews from Erfurt and Norwich, we find both history and continuity: evidence of exile, adaptation, and the enduring imprint of Israelite ancestry across centuries and borders.
For those interested in further analysis or visualization, here are the G25 coordinates of the samples:
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Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13861__AD_1350__Cov_28.27%,0.103579,0.15436,-0.018856,-0.051357,0.006463,-0.017012,0.008695,-0.000462,0.006954,0.017677,0.011042,-0.006894,0.002379,-0.013762,-0.005836,0.009414,0.008345,-0.001014,-0.005154,0.002251,-0.005989,0.004451,0.001602,-0.00253,0.002515
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13862__AD_1350__Cov_71.41%,0.110408,0.122879,0.00264,-0.010982,0.010771,-0.005578,0.00235,0.002769,0.00859,0.009294,0.00682,-0.003147,-0.003419,0.010046,-0.011943,-0.008486,-0.004955,0.00038,-0.00088,-0.006003,-0.007986,-0.000866,0.008751,-0.002651,-0.003233
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13863__AD_1350__Cov_22.90%,0.093335,0.132019,-0.020742,-0.064277,0.011079,-0.016455,-0.00423,-0.001846,0.01268,0.024602,0.007632,-0.003447,0.005203,-0.004542,-0.007465,-0.003713,-0.003129,-0.002914,-0.004902,-0.005378,-0.006239,-0.014838,-0.003574,-0.001687,-0.006586
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13864__AD_1350__Cov_58.64%,0.094473,0.151314,-0.019233,-0.052972,0.010463,-0.014502,-0.00188,-0.001615,0.018612,0.024784,0.005684,-0.0003,0.003271,0.003853,0.002714,0.001193,-0.01369,0.003421,0.003645,-0.012881,0.00262,0.002597,-0.002711,0.006266,-0.003113
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13865__AD_1350__Cov_47.63%,0.092197,0.142174,-0.014331,-0.059755,0.020619,-0.026774,-0.00611,-0.000923,0.01268,0.02041,0.00406,-0.000599,0.00446,0.003441,0.002036,-0.007027,-0.011474,0.004307,0.000126,-0.012506,-0.002745,-0.003957,0.008134,-0.005422,-0.003832
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13866__AD_1350__Cov_55.84%,0.106994,0.118817,0.006034,-0.014212,0.016311,-0.010319,-0.00282,0.004615,0.001636,0.014943,-0.006333,-0.000899,0.003717,0.00523,-0.012758,-0.003713,0.008996,0.003927,-0.003142,0.003877,-0.007362,-0.001607,0.001109,0.006386,-0.002754
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13867__AD_1350__Cov_67.58%,0.093335,0.13405,-0.002263,-0.049096,0.014772,-0.018686,-0.00658,-0.006231,0.011249,0.016948,0.008119,-0.001649,0.006987,0.000275,-0.003936,0.001193,0.001565,-0.000887,-0.004777,0.001626,-0.00574,-0.000742,0.007641,0.007953,0.000958
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13868__AD_1350__Cov_53.38%,0.105855,0.127957,0.012822,-0.018088,0.024312,-0.002231,-0.00188,0.000231,0.01268,0.007289,0.002111,0.007194,0.005649,0.010184,-0.001357,-0.004375,0.009388,-0.000507,-0.004022,0.008254,-0.001497,-0.004328,0.0053,-0.003856,0.000599
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I13870__AD_1350__Cov_31.57%,0.094473,0.148267,-0.01697,-0.057494,0.008001,-0.024542,-0.00282,-0.000692,0.019839,0.008018,0.005034,0.004946,0.016204,-0.004679,-0.002036,0.007027,0.006389,-0.000887,-0.004902,-0.014882,-0.00025,0.002102,-0.008258,0.006989,0.003353
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14736__AD_1350__Cov_59.23%,0.092197,0.139128,0.001131,-0.047804,0.012925,-0.012829,0.00141,0.001846,0.00859,0.018041,0.005684,0.002398,0.010555,-0.000138,0.006922,0.008884,0.01708,0.004181,0,-0.004252,-0.000499,0.004451,-0.00037,-0.002048,-0.008263
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14737__AD_1345__Cov_33.32%,0.08992,0.147252,-0.017725,-0.048773,0.008617,-0.028726,-0.00517,0.001385,0.013908,0.020228,0.00341,-0.001649,0.008176,0.007844,-0.012215,-0.0179,-0.017732,-0.002407,-0.000754,0.006878,-0.000873,-0.001113,0.005916,-0.002048,0.003832
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14738__AD_1350__Cov_71.23%,0.112685,0.126941,0.012822,-0.013889,0.01508,-0.002789,-0.00188,0.002077,0.001227,0.008201,-0.006333,-0.002847,0.006541,0.007294,-0.00475,0.001061,0.006128,-0.000127,0.000126,-0.004252,0.002121,0.004081,0.006779,0.004217,-0.005987
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14739__AD_1350__Cov_28.37%,0.08992,0.144205,-0.018102,-0.063631,0.01508,-0.03012,0.00235,-0.006923,0.007567,0.01713,0.001624,0.001349,0.00996,-0.001927,-0.002172,-0.00305,-0.008214,0.000887,-0.01169,0.001251,0.000998,-0.001978,0.008134,-0.008194,-0.000838
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14740__AD_1351__Cov_72.05%,0.100164,0.121864,0.014708,-0.011305,0.011694,-0.004462,-0.00705,0.003231,0.005113,0.006743,-0.007145,-0.003147,0.002973,0.008945,-0.012351,0.000133,0.001043,-0.003421,-0.000377,-0.004877,-0.00549,-0.003215,0.000863,-0.003012,0.00467
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14741__AD_1337__Cov_10.76%,0.101303,0.145221,-0.017348,-0.053941,0.011387,-0.020638,0.00752,0.020999,0.033951,0.021504,0.003897,0.007194,0.005203,-0.00289,-0.007193,0.001458,0.014081,0.002154,-0.005908,0.003377,-0.009733,0.005812,-0.002465,0.025305,-0.009221
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14847__AD_1350__Cov_73.18%,0.103579,0.127957,0.001508,-0.018734,0.014156,-0.00502,0.00094,-0.001615,0.002863,0.007289,0.003248,-0.00045,0.004014,0.004679,-0.001493,-0.019888,-0.006128,0.004814,0.003645,-0.006378,-0.004492,-0.00272,0.003451,0.00253,-0.005029
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14850__AD_1346__Cov_48.85%,0.103579,0.140143,0.013199,-0.017119,0.01908,-0.006136,-0.000235,0.011307,0.005113,0.004556,0.000974,-0.002098,-0.000743,0.007156,-0.004886,-0.012198,-0.008996,-0.003167,0.005782,-0.010005,-0.000749,-0.001484,0.012078,0.005543,0.002634
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14851__AD_1349__Cov_37.88%,0.097888,0.141159,-0.015839,-0.056848,0.011079,-0.01255,-0.00235,-0.009923,0.001841,0.016037,0.013153,0,0.006838,0.003716,-0.005429,-0.000265,-0.013299,-0.006588,-0.004525,-0.002001,-0.004617,-0.004328,-0.003204,-0.004458,0.002275
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14852__AD_1350__Cov_21.78%,0.103579,0.148267,-0.016593,-0.062662,0.005232,-0.022032,-0.001175,-0.018461,0.010431,0.022597,-0.001624,0.003747,0.001784,0.001789,-0.008686,0.002121,0.002477,0.004054,-0.009679,-0.004752,-0.00262,-0.018548,0.006779,0.012652,0.007185
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14897__AD_1345__Cov_19.90%,0.09675,0.142174,-0.003017,-0.039406,0.005232,-0.012271,0.013396,0.006231,0.005113,0.013121,0.000812,-0.001049,0.000595,0.012937,-0.001629,0.001061,-0.021774,0.003294,0.005279,-0.014007,0.001373,-0.011871,0.0053,-0.006025,-0.006347
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14903__AD_1350__Cov_52.00%,0.103579,0.146236,-0.021496,-0.051034,0.004001,-0.015897,0.000235,-0.003692,0.005318,0.024966,0.002111,-0.009292,-0.000595,-0.002752,-0.010179,0.000398,-0.002217,0.003674,-0.002388,0.002876,-0.00549,-0.00371,0.002711,0.000843,0.000958
Germany_Medieval_Jewish:I14904__AD_1343__Cov_60.95%,0.106994,0.116786,0.007165,-0.018411,0.023389,-0.008367,0.004935,0.010384,0.00225,0.016583,-0.004709,0.009591,0.001933,0.008395,0.000814,-0.008486,-0.022296,-0.002914,-0.001383,0,0.002246,-0.008903,0.002958,0.001687,0.003233
Norwich_England_Medieval_Jewish:SB605__AD_1189__Cov_84.89%,0.087644,0.148267,-0.015462,-0.05168,0.015387,-0.02259,-0.00329,0.004615,0.010226,0.019499,0.002761,0.0003,0.000297,-0.000826,-0.008415,0.001061,0.006258,-0.003167,0.001383,0.001501,-0.006988,-0.000371,-0.001849,0.000843,0.00467
Norwich_England_Medieval_Jewish:SB606__AD_1189__Cov_13.71%,0.095611,0.132019,-0.00528,-0.047804,0.023081,-0.02761,-0.011986,0.013615,0.005727,0.019499,0.001299,0.006894,-0.01219,0.001789,-0.002172,0.005038,0.005607,0.007475,0.007542,-0.005002,0.000499,0.000742,0.001479,-0.00012,0.002874
Norwich_England_Medieval_Jewish:SB671__AD_1189__Cov_16.21%,0.091058,0.135065,-0.009428,-0.052003,0.028621,-0.025937,-0.002115,0.003231,0.003068,0.01877,-0.002761,-0.001349,0.005946,0.000826,0.004207,-0.000398,0.012517,0.008108,0.004651,-0.004127,0.001872,0.001113,-0.002588,-0.007712,0.002395
Norwich_England_Medieval_Jewish:SB676__AD_1189__Cov_86.35%,0.086506,0.148267,-0.018856,-0.061693,0.005847,-0.017291,-0.00658,-0.006231,0.017794,0.015126,0.002436,0.001199,0.002676,0.000413,-0.000679,-0.011138,-0.011343,-0.001267,0.001257,-0.004502,0.001872,0.001113,-0.008011,0.000361,-0.005628
Norwich_England_Medieval_Jewish:SB696__AD_1189__Cov_25.48%,0.079676,0.149283,-0.014331,-0.050065,0.018773,-0.020638,-0.00376,0.012461,0.019839,0.022051,0.012179,0.001049,0.007582,-0.010184,-0.008279,0.00053,0.000261,-0.009882,-0.005405,-0.00025,-0.004866,-0.001237,0.002835,0.011929,-0.005868
References
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Waldman, S., Backenroth, D., Harney, É., Flohr, S., Neff, N. C., et al. (2022).
Genome-wide data from medieval German Jews show that the Ashkenazi founder event pre-dated the 14th century.
Cell, 185(25), 4726–4740.e17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.002
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Brace, S., Diekmann, Y., Booth, T. J., van Dorp, L., Faltyskova, Z., et al. (2022).
Genomes from a medieval mass burial show Ashkenazi-associated hereditary diseases pre-date the 12th century.
Current Biology, 32(23), 5094–5102.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.036
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