The Etruscans of Felsina: Reconstruction of the Genetic Profile and Biological Connections with Italic and Transalpine Populations from the Villanovan Period to the Roman period.

Abstract

This doctoral research investigates the genetic characterization of Etruscan communities from the Po Valley, a region that has so far remained unexplored from a genetic perspective. We analyzed a total of 103 ancient individuals from 13 Etruscan archaeological sites: ten of these sites are located within the metropolitan area of present day Bologna, corresponding to the ancient Etruscan city of Felsina, while the other three sites are located in the nearby rural areas. The samples span a time transect from the 10th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. This study focuses on the analysis of the biological profile, population structure and genetic relationships among Etruscan groups from the Po Valley. The dataset also includes 24 individuals from three archaeological sites in the urban area of Bologna attributed to the Villanovan period, which predates the Etruscan dominance. . In addition, this study explores the genetic interactions between northern Etruscan communities and Celtic groups from Central Europe. Comparative analyses were conducted using Celtic groups attributed to both the Hallstatt period (9th –5thcenturies BCE), preceding large-scale transalpine migrations, and the La Tène period(5th-1st centuries BCE), during which archaeological and historical evidence indicates intensified contacts between Italian and transalpine communities.