Genetic history of Rus'

Abstract

The foundation of the first ancient Rus' state occurred as a result of the consolidation of diverse communities inhabiting Eastern Europe during the second half of the first millennium CE. Historical sources imply that these communities mostly include East Slavs, whose settlement across a vast territory led to the emergence of the East Slavic/Rus' culture within the Rus' state. We generated genomic data for 200 medieval individuals from different locations to elucidate the origin and genetic structure of the Rus' population during the early stages of the state formation. Our findings reveal a genetic continuum predominantly shaped by two key genetic groups: a broad Slavic-related continuity of different genetic subclusters of Rus' occupying the enormous European Plain area, and a Fenno-Ugrian (Uralic)-related component in the Norhern Rus' region. Importantly, both groups have a shared genetic substrate inherited from preceding ancient Baltic region populations. To scale Scandinavian ("Viking") heritage, we traced minor Scandinavian genetic lineages that did not make up the dominating genetic stratum of the early Rus' state. Our study presents the first comprehensive genomic image of the medieval Rus', highlighting the intricate cultural and genetic interactions between Slavic, Fenno-Ugrian, and other groups that formed the first Rus' state affecting Europe's history.