The Max Planck Society of Evolutionary Anthropology announced the analysis of genome-wide DNA from skeletal samples of 722 individuals from the Vienna Basin, focusing on relatedness estimation and genetic ancestry, as reported by Archaeology Magazine. The research sheds new light on the genetic makeup and cultural integration of communities during the Avar period in East Central Europe.
The Avars, who migrated from the East Asian steppes to Central Europe in the sixth century CE, established themselves among local populations. Two centuries later, the inhabitants of Mödling and Leobersdorf—neighboring sites south of Vienna—shared culture and customs but few genes, revealing a genetic divergence between the two communities.
The analysis revealed genetic differences between the populations of Leobersdorf and Mödling. Individuals buried at Leobersdorf were predominantly of East Asian origin, carrying a median of 71.5% East Asian ancestry. In contrast, those buried in Mödling had ancestry linked to European populations, with predating Eastern Mediterranean ancestry mixed with southeastern and later northeastern European ancestries, as reported by Scienze Notizie.
"The genetic difference between these groups was very clear and consistent for most of the individuals at the sites," said geneticist Ke Wang of Fudan University, noting a genetic discrepancy that cannot be explained by differences in social status or function of the sites.
Despite these genetic distinctions, the archaeological remains left behind by the two communities are Avar in style and very similar to each other. "They were obviously regarded as Avars," said Walter Pohl of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, adding that cultural integration between the two communities seemed to function smoothly. The communities shared similar burial practices, artifacts, and customs, demonstrating a cohesive cultural identity despite their different genetic backgrounds.
The study uncovered patterns in familial relationships and ancestry. In Leobersdorf, the mothers apparently came from communities that also descended from East Asia, possibly from the center of the Avar realm, as reported by Science Daily. Conversely, in Mödling, the mothers were of European descent, with predating Eastern Mediterranean ancestry mixed first with southeastern European ancestry and later with northeastern European ancestry.
Researchers found that despite differences in ancestry, the communities of Leobersdorf and Mödling did not differ in status or wealth. Indicators of status occurred to a similar degree at both sites, suggesting that social standing was not determined by genetic heritage, as reported by Science Daily. "Most likely both considered themselves Avars," concluded archaeologist Bendeguz Tobias of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, emphasizing the shared cultural identity between the two groups.
The study is among the largest genetic analyses of burial grounds conducted, focusing on cemeteries from the late-Avar period in the eighth century CE. Researchers sampled two entire cemeteries for genomic analysis: Leobersdorf, dating from the seventh to early ninth century CE with 155 samples, and Mödling-An der Goldenen Stiege, with 485 samples from the same period.
Through their sampling strategy and highly sensitive genetic analysis techniques, the researchers discovered a high number of familial relationships among the deceased. Zuzana Hofmanová from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Masaryk University explained that the network of genetic ties allowed the reconstruction of contemporary family trees up to six generations for each site.
The study found that almost none of the analyzed mothers had local ancestors, indicating they must have come from other regions and communities. Both communities seemed to follow similar social practices in partner selection, favoring unions with individuals from other communities while preserving their different ancestries, as reported by Medievalists.net.
Despite living next to each other for at least six generations, the genetic connections between Mödling and Leobersdorf were minimal, suggesting limited interactions between them over several generations, as reported by Scienze Notizie. This multidisciplinary research has shown that genes and culture do not have to match, revealing the dynamics of cultural integration in the Avar period.
"Mödling burial ground is one of the largest ever analyzed genetically, and such results hold a lot of potential for future research in disciplines," said Johannes Krause, director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. The study's findings challenge previous assumptions that the Avars mixed extensively with local populations and reveal a previously undocumented case of fundamental genetic differences between neighboring communities sharing the same cultural identity.
The original scholarly article about this research, titled 'Ancient DNA reveals reproductive barrier despite shared Avar-period culture,' was published in Nature. The genetic analysis and archaeological insights provided by this study offer a deeper understanding of the relationships between genetics, culture, and social structure in early medieval Europe.
"We find no battle injuries on the skeletons and there are hardly any signs of deficiencies," said Doris Pany-Kucera, an anthropologist from the Natural History Museum Vienna. Weapons were rarely found in graves at both sites, supporting the idea of a peaceful society during the late Avar period.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.