Tang Jiaxin, Wang Rui, Wei Qingli, He Haifeng, Deng Chen, Tao Le, Mao Xiaolu, Ma Hao, Wang Xinyi, Zou Xinyue, Yang Xiaomin, Zhang Qiaoyan, Wu Qian, Guo Yi, Wang Chuan-Chao
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Bioanthropology, Institute of Anthropology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Mol Biol Evol. 2026 Jan 3;43(1). doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaf316.
Ancient DNA and archaeological studies indicate the Central Plain's pivotal role in the cultural and genetic evolution of ancient China. However, limited genome-wide data have constrained our understanding of this region's population history during the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty (around 1600 to 1046 BCE). Here, we present genome-wide data from 11 individuals from the Xisima Cemetery in Central Plain, a site exhibiting clear burial evidence of social stratification dating to the Late Shang Dynasty (around 1300 to 1046 BCE). Genetic analyses reveal that all Xisima individuals can be modeled as direct, unadmixed descendants of Late Neolithic Central Plain-related people. We found no systematic genetic differentiation between individuals buried in high-grade (south-to-north) and low-grade (east-to-west) tombs, indicating genetic homogeneity across social strata. These results demonstrate that social stratification at Xisima occurred without corresponding genetic distinction, supporting the decoupling of social hierarchy from significant genetic differentiation in this Shang community.
古DNA和考古研究表明，中原地区在中国古代文化和基因演变中具有关键作用。然而，全基因组数据有限，限制了我们对该地区青铜时代商朝（公元前1600年至公元前1046年左右）人口历史的理解。在此，我们展示了来自中原地区西司马墓地11个人的全基因组数据，该遗址有明确的墓葬证据表明其社会分层可追溯至商朝晚期（公元前1300年至公元前1046年左右）。基因分析显示，所有西司马个体都可被模拟为新石器时代晚期中原相关人群的直系、无混合血统后代。我们发现，埋葬在高等级（从南到北）和低等级（从东到西）墓葬中的个体之间没有系统的基因分化，这表明社会各阶层在基因上具有同质性。这些结果表明，西司马的社会分层并未伴随着相应的基因差异，支持了该商朝社群中社会等级与显著基因分化脱钩的观点。
