Ancient DNA reveals the complex demographic history of the late neolithic age in the Eastern Nihewan basin

Abstract

The Nihewan Basin is a key site for exploring the origin and evolution of early Humans in East Asia. Historically, the eastern part of the basin was an important base for the exchange and communication of ancient cultures between the Central Plains and the North. To describe Human migration and mixing events from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age in the Eastern Nihewan Basin, we selected 10 ancient Human individuals from the late Neolithic Jiangjialiang site and 4 individuals from the Bronze Age Sanguan site for whole genome sequencing analysis. After preliminary screening, the genomes of 9 individuals were used for genetic analysis. The results indicate that the ancient individuals at the Jiangjialiang site are closely related to the Neolithic populations from the Amur River Basin, the West Liao River Basin, and the Eastern Eurasian steppes. In contrast, the Sanguan population exhibits distinct genetic components, with a greater influence from southern East Asia and Southeast Asia. Due to the unique geographical location of the Eastern Nihewan Basin, people from various regions and cultures interacted and exchanged ideas here from the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Studying the complex population history of this region has a great significance for exploring cultural exchanges between it and the West Liao River Basin, the grasslands region, and the Central Plains of Northern China.