Ancient DNA reveals the population interactions and a Neolithic patrilineal community in Northern Yangtze Region

作者：Tingyu Yang, Jianing He, Chunmei Li, Chao Ning, Tianming Zhang, Jincheng Wang, Zhang Hai, Guanbo Wang, Xiaowen Jia, Chi Zhang, Shi Yan, Xiannian Zhang, Fan Wu, Chaodong Wu, Xiaohong Wu, Yuhong Pang, Yanyi Huang · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-025-63743-1 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Forensic and Genetic Research、Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications、Genetic diversity and population structure

The scarcity of ancient genomes of early rice cultivators has hindered our understanding of their genetic profiles and dynamic interactions with millet cultivators. In this study, we analyzed 58 ancient genomes from Baligang, a long-term settlement situated on the northern rim of the Middle Yangtze River Basin, spanning from the Middle Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. This chronostratified genetic dataset offers comprehensive genomic insights into populations engaged in early rice cultivation, enhancing our understanding of East Asian demographic history. Our study revealed that Baligang experienced successive waves of admixture over time, with ~4,200 BP as a critical transition point, marked by a significant genomic influx of southern East Asian populations. We also identify the detailed kinship relations within multi-generational secondary burial and the existence of patrilineal communities dating back five millennia, offering fresh perspectives on early social structure in prehistoric China. Ancient genomes from Neolithic rice-farming populations at Baligang reveal a demographic shift around 4,200 years ago and a 5,000-year-old patrilineal social structure, providing insights into the population history of East Asia.