Bronze Age Xinjiang population had dual ancestry from farmers and nomads, study finds

Scientists have discovered that Bronze Age inhabitants of Xinjiang's oldest cemetery were not solely Eurasian nomads, but a genetically mixed population with significant ancestry from Yellow River farmers, according to a study published on Friday in the journal Science.

The research, which analyzed remains from the Tianshanbeilu cemetery, reveals that this population lived in the eastern Tianshan region 3,600 years ago, during China's Shang dynasty (1600-1050BC). The findings challenge the long-held assumption that the more than 700 Bronze Age tombs unearthed at the site belonged exclusively to Eurasian nomads who migrated eastward from the steppes.

Ancient Cemetery in Harsh Terrain

The Tianshanbeilu cemetery is located in the Hami oasis, nestled between the Tianshan Mountains and the Gobi Desert in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The burial site sits around 500 kilometers east of Urumqi, the regional capital, in a land of little rain that is battered by wind and sand year-round.

The study marks a significant shift in understanding the genetic origins of Xinjiang's earliest known inhabitants, documenting a population with roots in both Yellow River farmers and Eurasian steppe groups.

Source: South China Morning Post