Genomic insights into the Iron Age Saka of Boz-Barmak, Kyrgyzstan
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna
- 2Department of Anthropology, American University of Central Asia
- 3Jusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University
- 4Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies, Western Michigan University
- 5Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University
Abstract
The nomadic cultures of the Iron Age played an important role in shaping the genetic and cultural landscape of Eurasian populations. Yet despite its key geographical location, the Central Eurasian region remains underrepresented in ancient DNA studies of humans. We address this gap through genomic analysis of 12 individuals from the Boz-Barmak burial site in Kyrgyzstan associated with Saka pastoralists (4th−2nd centuries BCE), 9 of which yielded low-coverage genomes (on average 0.7-fold coverage). Genetic clustering analysis placed these individuals within the genetic variation of ancient and modern Central Eurasian and Siberian populations. We found no evidence of first-degree relatives in a kinship analysis, however a network of second- and third-degree relationships seems to be present. Notably, all male individuals share the same Y-chromosomal haplotype, common in present-day Kyrgyz groups, while mitochondrial DNA showed comparably high diversity, with distinct haplogroups observed across the analysed individuals. These findings are in line with archaeological and ethnographic evidence of patrilocality in Early Iron Age Saka, where male lineages remained stable across generations, while female mobility contributed to genetic diversity. Our study complements our understanding of the interplay between kinship, social organisation and population history in nomadic cultures.
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BibTeX
@article{rymbekova2026genomic,
title = {{Genomic insights into the Iron Age Saka of Boz-Barmak, Kyrgyzstan}},
author = {Aigerim Rymbekova and Pere Gelabert and Alejandro Llanos-Lizcano and Kaaviya Balakrishnan and Michelle Hämmerle and Sojung Han and Olivia Cheronet and Aida Abdykanova and Keldibek Kasymkulov and Michelle Hrivnyak and Jacqueline T. Eng and Ron Pinhasi and Martin Kuhlwilm},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-62891-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62891-8},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genomic insights into the Iron Age Saka of Boz-Barmak, Kyrgyzstan
AU - Aigerim Rymbekova
AU - Pere Gelabert
AU - Alejandro Llanos-Lizcano
AU - Kaaviya Balakrishnan
AU - Michelle Hämmerle
AU - Sojung Han
AU - Olivia Cheronet
AU - Aida Abdykanova
AU - Keldibek Kasymkulov
AU - Michelle Hrivnyak
AU - Jacqueline T. Eng
AU - Ron Pinhasi
AU - Martin Kuhlwilm
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-62891-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62891-8
AB - The nomadic cultures of the Iron Age played an important role in shaping the genetic and cultural landscape of Eurasian populations. Yet despite its key geographical location, the Central Eurasian region remains underrepresented in ancient DNA studies of humans. We address this gap through genomic analysis of 12 individuals from the Boz-Barmak burial site in Kyrgyzstan associated with Saka pastoralists (4th−2nd centuries BCE), 9 of which yielded low-coverage genomes (on average 0.7-fold coverage). Genetic clustering analysis placed these individuals within the genetic variation of ancient and modern Central Eurasian and Siberian populations. We found no evidence of first-degree relatives in a kinship analysis, however a network of second- and third-degree relationships seems to be present. Notably, all male individuals share the same Y-chromosomal haplotype, common in present-day Kyrgyz groups, while mitochondrial DNA showed comparably high diversity, with distinct haplogroups observed across the analysed individuals. These findings are in line with archaeological and ethnographic evidence of patrilocality in Early Iron Age Saka, where male lineages remained stable across generations, while female mobility contributed to genetic diversity. Our study complements our understanding of the interplay between kinship, social organisation and population history in nomadic cultures.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -