A cautionary note on the application of limited genetics studies to whole populations
"Unraveling the origins of the sogdians: Evidence of genetic admixture between ancient central and East Asians", Jiashuo Zhang, Yongdi Wang, Naifan Zhang, Jiawei Li, Youyang Qu, Cunshi Zhu, Fan Zhang, Dawei Cai, and Chao Ning, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (Volume 61, February 2025, 104957)
Highlights:
- Genome-wide data was generated for two individuals from a joint burial in the Guyuan cemetery dating to the Tang Dynasty.
- The female individual exhibits local ancestry, while the male individual carries both local ancestry and additional genetic components.
- The integration of genomic data with archaeological evidence suggests that the two individuals were likely husband and wife.
- The Sogdians, who travelled to China and intermarried with local populations, played a significant role in the Silk Road trade.
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