Mitogenomic diversity and stable isotopes provide insights into the maternal genetic history, mobility patterns, and diet of early medieval individuals from the Eastern Italian Alps

Abstract

The Eastern Italian Alps (South Tyrol) is a connection area between continental Italy and the northern Alps. Various local factors, such as the heterogeneous environment, complex historical events, and different mobility patterns, may have influenced the genetic makeup of early medieval alpine groups. However, no ancient genetic data from these groups are currently available. This study provides a first picture of the ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity of alpine groups from four locations in South Tyrol (Adige, Isarco, Venosta, and Merano). In total, 94 ancient mitogenomes of individuals (dated from 400 to 1100AD) were reconstructed by shotgun sequencing and a mtDNA capture approach. Moreover, stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) were analyzed in a subset of 32 individuals. The results indicate different mtDNA haplogroup distributions among the alpine locations and the presence of rare lineages besides a possible maternal relatedness between individuals buried in the same and in diverse archaeological contexts. The study also shows differences in the genetic and mobility patterns (δ34S) between individuals from the central and north-eastern parts (Adige, Merano, Isarco) and those from the north-western part of South Tyrol (Venosta). These results suggest genetic exchanges with allochthonous people in the first group probably linked to high mobility and to geomorphological, historical, and socio-cultural factors. Comparisons extended to present-day alpine populations also suggested maternal genetic continuity in this alpine area. Finally, stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) data provided further support for regional differences in the diet of past alpine groups possibly linked to altitude and/or social status.

The Genomic portrait of the Picene culture: new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman expansion in Central Italy

“…2A; Additional file 3: Fig. S1 and S7) [8,9,15]. We confirmed these results also with the Admixture analysis (Fig.…”

“…The rise of a multicultural Roman Empire changed the genetic landscape of the city of Rome, introducing a strong genetic component from the Near East that also lasted throughout the Late Antiquity [8]. Although this shift in the gene pool has also been observed outside the city of Rome post [9,15], it is still unclear how pervasive it was in the entire peninsula.…”

Family in Medieval Society: A Bioarchaeological Perspective

“…An example of this is the research of Paladin et al (2020) that studied the dietary patterns, subsistence strategies, changes in socio-economic structures, and mobility of the early medieval groups living in the different valleys of the Italian Alps. A later study (Coia et al 2022) also shows differences in the genetic and mobility patterns between individuals from different parts of the Italian Alps, suggesting genetic exchanges with allochthonous people in one of the groups, probably linked to high mobility and geomorphological, historical, and sociocultural factors.…”