A genomic snapshot of demographic and cultural dynamism in Upper Mesopotamia during the Neolithic Transition

Abstract

Upper Mesopotamia played a key role in the Neolithic Transition in Southwest Asia through marked innovations in symbolism, technology, and foodways. We present thirteen ancient genomes (c.8500-7500 calBCE) from Pre-Pottery Neolithic Çayönü in the Tigris basin together with bioarchaeological and material culture data. Our findings reveal that Çayönü was a genetically diverse population, carrying a mixed ancestry from western and eastern Fertile Crescent, and that the community received immigrants. Our results further suggest that the community was organised along biological family lines. We document bodily interventions such as head-shaping and cauterization among the individuals examined, reflecting Çayönü's cultural ingenuity. Finally, we identify Upper Mesopotamia as the likely source of eastern gene flow into Neolithic Anatolia, in line with material culture evidence. We hypothesise that Upper Mesopotamia's cultural dynamism during the Neolithic Transition was the product not only of its fertile lands but also of its interregional demographic connections.

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Ancient genomes illuminate Eastern Arabian population history and adaptation against malaria

“…Strikingly, neither of these lineages were found in present-day Arabians 20 . Their presence in both western (Anatolia/Levant) and eastern (Iran/Caucasus/Central Asia) ancient samples reflects connectivity between these ancient civilisations as early as the pre-pottery Neolithic (as attested by the presence of eastern ancestry and J2 Y-chromosome lineage in Cayonu_PPN 44 ) which apparently intensified during post-Neolithic times 42 .…”

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“…Therefore, our estimates avoid these complications and support the conclusion that the initial AMY1 gene duplications substantially predated out-of-Africa migrations, by at least 30 KYA (table S9). (24,25). Ancient human samples that were analyzed for amylase copy number are annotated with shapes and colors for time period and lifestyle, respectively.…”

“…Major agricultural footholds are indicated by wheat pictograms. Tan arrows show general trends of human agricultural migration throughout Europe, with predicted time periods(24,25). Ancient human samples that were…”