Post by koroglu on Apr 9, 2006 18:29:31 GMT -5
Results
mtDNA Analysis
... Although the mtDNA sequences obtained could not be assigned with certainty to mtDNA haplogroups (since they encompassed only the HVI of the control region), three (A, C, and D) of the four major haplogroups observed in Native American (Torroni et al. 1993) and Siberian (Starikovskaya et al. 1998; Schurr et al. 1999) populations were detected in the ancient samples tested (with haplogroup D being the most prevalent). A few sequences belonging to subclusters B4b, D5 or D5a, F1b, J1, G2a, U2 or U5a1a and some that probably belonged to cluster M were also observed (Richards et al. 2000; Yao et al. 2002). No member of the major European cluster H, which occurs in >40% of most European populations (Richards et al. 1996) was found. Interestingly, some of the haplotypes reported here are similar to those found in previous studies of the area (Kolman et al. 1996; Comas et al. 1998).
Discussion
... A majority (89%) of the Eastern Huns' sequences can be classified as belonging to an Asian haplogroup (A, B4b, C, D4, D5 or D5a, or F1b), and nearly 11% belong to European haplogroups (U2, U5a1a, and J1). This finding indicates that the contacts between European and Asian populations were anterior to the Eastern Huns' culture, and it confirms results reported for two samples from an early 3rd century BC Scytho-Siberian population (Clisson et al. 2002).
The genetic data obtained in the present study, in addition to the topographical and radiocarbon data, suggested hypotheses concerning the social history of the necropolis. Around the 3rd century BC, the grave of an adult male (grave 28) had been dug on the southern part of the Egyin Gol valley (A sector). At a short distance from him, a privileged man was also buried (grave 27), as were other individuals, including those found in double graves (graves 32/32A, 33/33A, 37/37A, and 38/38A). Some of these surrounding graves could be sacrificial burials, as has been reported elsewhere for one of them (Murail et al. 2000). This tradition of having double graves near an opulent one in cemeteries containing individuals of high social class is well documented, notably in the Sakka (normally spelled Saka in English, a general endoethnonym of the eastern Scythians - Translator's Note) (another group of nomadic people of the Eurasian steppes) and the Pazyryk cultures (Francfort et al. 2000). This ritual, at the first developmental step of the cemetery, suggests that the cultural influence of the "old Scythian spirit" was already present in some nomadic families at the beginning of the Eastern Huns empire. ...
... (Sometime ca. the 1st c. AD - Translator's Note) ... paternal lineage has been, at least in part (6 of 7 STRs), found in a present-day Turkish individual (Henke et al. 2001). Moreover, the mtDNA sequence shared by four of these paternal relatives (from graves 46, 52, 54, and 57) were also found in a Turkish individuals (Comas et al. 1996), suggesting a possible Turkish origin of these ancient specimens. Two other individuals buried in the B sector (graves 61 and 90) were characterized by mtDNA sequences found in Turkish people (Calafell 1996; Richards et al. 2000). These data might reflect the emergence at the end of the necropolis of a Turkish component in the Eastern Huns tribe.
mtDNA Analysis
... Although the mtDNA sequences obtained could not be assigned with certainty to mtDNA haplogroups (since they encompassed only the HVI of the control region), three (A, C, and D) of the four major haplogroups observed in Native American (Torroni et al. 1993) and Siberian (Starikovskaya et al. 1998; Schurr et al. 1999) populations were detected in the ancient samples tested (with haplogroup D being the most prevalent). A few sequences belonging to subclusters B4b, D5 or D5a, F1b, J1, G2a, U2 or U5a1a and some that probably belonged to cluster M were also observed (Richards et al. 2000; Yao et al. 2002). No member of the major European cluster H, which occurs in >40% of most European populations (Richards et al. 1996) was found. Interestingly, some of the haplotypes reported here are similar to those found in previous studies of the area (Kolman et al. 1996; Comas et al. 1998).
Discussion
... A majority (89%) of the Eastern Huns' sequences can be classified as belonging to an Asian haplogroup (A, B4b, C, D4, D5 or D5a, or F1b), and nearly 11% belong to European haplogroups (U2, U5a1a, and J1). This finding indicates that the contacts between European and Asian populations were anterior to the Eastern Huns' culture, and it confirms results reported for two samples from an early 3rd century BC Scytho-Siberian population (Clisson et al. 2002).
The genetic data obtained in the present study, in addition to the topographical and radiocarbon data, suggested hypotheses concerning the social history of the necropolis. Around the 3rd century BC, the grave of an adult male (grave 28) had been dug on the southern part of the Egyin Gol valley (A sector). At a short distance from him, a privileged man was also buried (grave 27), as were other individuals, including those found in double graves (graves 32/32A, 33/33A, 37/37A, and 38/38A). Some of these surrounding graves could be sacrificial burials, as has been reported elsewhere for one of them (Murail et al. 2000). This tradition of having double graves near an opulent one in cemeteries containing individuals of high social class is well documented, notably in the Sakka (normally spelled Saka in English, a general endoethnonym of the eastern Scythians - Translator's Note) (another group of nomadic people of the Eurasian steppes) and the Pazyryk cultures (Francfort et al. 2000). This ritual, at the first developmental step of the cemetery, suggests that the cultural influence of the "old Scythian spirit" was already present in some nomadic families at the beginning of the Eastern Huns empire. ...
... (Sometime ca. the 1st c. AD - Translator's Note) ... paternal lineage has been, at least in part (6 of 7 STRs), found in a present-day Turkish individual (Henke et al. 2001). Moreover, the mtDNA sequence shared by four of these paternal relatives (from graves 46, 52, 54, and 57) were also found in a Turkish individuals (Comas et al. 1996), suggesting a possible Turkish origin of these ancient specimens. Two other individuals buried in the B sector (graves 61 and 90) were characterized by mtDNA sequences found in Turkish people (Calafell 1996; Richards et al. 2000). These data might reflect the emergence at the end of the necropolis of a Turkish component in the Eastern Huns tribe.