Archaeology & Prehistory
Rakhigarhi: first ancient Indus genome
published 2019 (remains ~4500 yrs old)Ancient-DNA researchersRakhigarhi skeletal remainsHaryana
2,500 BCE
The first genome sequenced from an Indus individual, showing a mix of Iranian-related (pre-farming) and South Asian hunter-gatherer ancestry, without Steppe-pastoralist ancestry.
- Dated
- 2,500 BCE
- As scholars put it
- published 2019 (remains ~4500 yrs old)
- Originator
- Ancient-DNA researchers
- Source text
- Rakhigarhi skeletal remains
- Region
- Haryana
- Discipline
- Archaeology & Prehistory
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Verified-web
Meanwhile in the West
Part of a large study of ancient Central/South Asian DNA.
Fair to say
The broader interpretation (esp. regarding Indo-European/'Aryan' migration) is scientifically nuanced and politically charged; this row reports the genetic finding only, not any political conclusion.
Path to modern innovation
A landmark in Indian archaeogenetics.
Transmission
Collaboration of Indian, US and other institutions.
References
- 1Shinde et al., Cell (2019)
- 2Narasimhan et al., Science (2019)
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-166 on GitHub.