Croze Myriam, Paladin Alice, Zingale Stefania, Alemanno Sofia, Nicolis Franco, Mottes Elisabetta, Maixner Frank, Pedrotti Annaluisa, Günther Torsten, Zink Albert, Coia Valentina
Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, SE- 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 11;16(1):6431. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8.
The Eastern Italian Alps played a crucial bridging role between Mediterranean and Northern alpine populations since Prehistory. However, few prehistoric individuals from that region have been genomically analysed so far. Among them, the Iceman (Copper Age, 3368-3108 BC) showed a relatively high Anatolian-Neolithic-related ancestry and low Hunter-Gatherers (HGs)-related ancestry. To investigate how the genomic structure of alpine groups varied over time and to contextualize the Iceman, we analysed 47 alpine individuals dated from the Mesolithic (6380-6107 BC) to Middle Bronze Age (1601-1295 BC). The Mesolithic genome reveals genetic admixture between Western and Eastern HGs that occurred from ~13700 - 8300 BC. Most individuals from the Neolithic onwards present a genomic structure resembling that of the Iceman, supporting genetic continuity. Few individuals carry different ancestries, such as the Steppe-related ones appearing ~2400 BC. Finally, the study suggests local and non-local admixture events between HGs and Neolithic farmers from this alpine area.
自史前时代以来，意大利东部阿尔卑斯山在地中海和北欧高山人群之间发挥了至关重要的桥梁作用。然而，到目前为止，该地区很少有史前个体接受基因组分析。其中，冰人（铜器时代，公元前3368 - 3108年）显示出相对较高的与安纳托利亚新石器时代相关的血统，以及较低的与狩猎采集者（HG）相关的血统。为了研究高山群体的基因组结构如何随时间变化，并将冰人置于相应背景中，我们分析了47个高山个体，其年代从中石器时代（公元前6380 - 6107年）到青铜时代中期（公元前1601 - 1295年）。中石器时代的基因组揭示了公元前约13700 - 8300年发生的西方和东方狩猎采集者之间的基因混合。从新石器时代起的大多数个体呈现出与冰人相似的基因组结构，支持了基因连续性。少数个体携带不同的血统，例如公元前约2400年出现的与草原相关的血统。最后，该研究表明了该高山地区狩猎采集者与新石器时代农民之间的本地和非本地混合事件。
