Reconstructing the genetic ancestry of the archaeological site in Amiternum: From Roman Imperial to early medieval times in Central Italy
Abstract
Central-southern Italy is pivotal for reconstructing the population history of the peninsula, yet the genetic impact of the complex demographic past in the Abruzzo region remains largely unexplored. This study integrates archaeological context with ancient DNA analysis of 16 individuals excavated at the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Civitate in Amiternum. The sample comprises one adult male from the Roman Imperial period and 15 subadults mainly from the early medieval period. Genome-wide data reveal a sharp genetic discontinuity between the two epochs. The Roman individual mirrors other Italians from the same period, characterized by significant Near Eastern ancestry. In contrast, the early medieval group-genetically homogeneous-clusters with late antique and medieval populations from Central and Southern Italy, showing significant genetic influence from Central and Northern Europe. Overall, the medieval genetic structure differs from the Roman one and closely resembles that of modern Central and Southern Italians.
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BibTeX
@article{moroni2026reconstructing,
title = {{Reconstructing the genetic ancestry of the archaeological site in Amiternum: From Roman Imperial to early medieval times in Central Italy}},
author = {Elisabetta Moroni and Vincenzo Agostini and Dario Ciabini and Giulia Colombo and Rosalinda Di Gerlando and Nicola Rambaldi Migliore and Osvaldo Zarivi and Ornella Semino and Alessandro Achilli and Alfonso Forgione and Anna Maria G. Poma and Anna Olivieri},
journal = {iScience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2026.117783},
url = {https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)03164-0},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Reconstructing the genetic ancestry of the archaeological site in Amiternum: From Roman Imperial to early medieval times in Central Italy
AU - Elisabetta Moroni
AU - Vincenzo Agostini
AU - Dario Ciabini
AU - Giulia Colombo
AU - Rosalinda Di Gerlando
AU - Nicola Rambaldi Migliore
AU - Osvaldo Zarivi
AU - Ornella Semino
AU - Alessandro Achilli
AU - Alfonso Forgione
AU - Anna Maria G. Poma
AU - Anna Olivieri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - iScience
DO - 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117783
UR - https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)03164-0
AB - Central-southern Italy is pivotal for reconstructing the population history of the peninsula, yet the genetic impact of the complex demographic past in the Abruzzo region remains largely unexplored. This study integrates archaeological context with ancient DNA analysis of 16 individuals excavated at the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Civitate in Amiternum. The sample comprises one adult male from the Roman Imperial period and 15 subadults mainly from the early medieval period. Genome-wide data reveal a sharp genetic discontinuity between the two epochs. The Roman individual mirrors other Italians from the same period, characterized by significant Near Eastern ancestry. In contrast, the early medieval group-genetically homogeneous-clusters with late antique and medieval populations from Central and Southern Italy, showing significant genetic influence from Central and Northern Europe. Overall, the medieval genetic structure differs from the Roman one and closely resembles that of modern Central and Southern Italians.
SN - 2589-0042
ER -