Genetic identification of Slavs in Migration Period Europe using an IBD sharing graph

[Peterski]

Abstract:

https://www.archeologia.uw.edu.pl/ar...-wschodniej-2/

https://www.archeologia.uw.edu.pl/en...-has-a-future/

Leonid Vyazov (Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic), Gulnaz Sagmanova (Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic), Olga Flegontova (Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic), Harald Ringbauer (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States), David Reich (Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States), Pavel Flegontov (Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic)

Genetic identification of Slavs in Migration Period Europe using an IBD sharing graph

"Popular methods of genetic analysis relying on allele frequencies such as PCA, ADMIXTURE and qpAdm are not suitable for distinguishing many populations that were important historical actors in the Migration Period Europe. For instance, differentiating Slavic, Germanic, and Celtic people is very difficult relying on these methods, but very helpful for archaeologists given a large proportion of graves with no inventory and frequent adoption of a different culture. To overcome these problems, we applied a method based on autosomal haplotypes. Imputation of missing genotypes and phasing was performed according to a protocol by Rubinacci et al. (2021), and IBD inference was done for ancient Eurasian individuals with data available at >600,000 1240K sites. IBD links for a subset of these individuals were represented as a graph, visualized with a force-directed layout algorithm, and clusters in this graph are inferred with the Leiden algorithm. One of the clusters in the IBD graph emerged that includes nearly all individuals in the dataset annotated archaeologically as “Slavic”. According to PCA a hypothesis for the origin of this population can be proposed: it was formed by admixture of a Baltic-related group with East Germanic people and Sarmatians or Scythians. The individuals belonging to the “Slavic” IBD sharing cluster form a chronological gradient on the PCA plot, with the earliest samples close to the Baltic LBA/EIA group. Later “Slavic” individuals are shifted to the right, closer to Central and Southern Europeans and probably reflecting further admixture of Slavs with local populations during the Migration Period."

[CordedWhelp]

The East Germanic thing is interesting...I’m sure these were not Scandinavian-like people as a whole. Didn’t they have a Balkan component?

[Peterski]

I’m sure these were not Scandinavian-like people as a whole

Why do you think so? So far we have only Swedish-like samples of Goths (Weklice & Kowalewko).

[rothaer]

Why do you think so? So far we have only Swedish-like samples of Goths (Weklice & Kowalewko).

Because a lot of Eastern Germanic areas archeologically visibly got settled from the continental Jastorf culture.

Also, the Eastern Germanic (assumingly Vandal) chieftain from Deutschendorf-Matzdorf (Poprad-Matejovce) in Eastern Slovakia, DA119, is not Scandinavian-like (but Dutch-like).

[Peterski]

Also, the Eastern Germanic (assumingly Vandal) chieftain from Deutschendorf-Matzdorf (Poprad-Matejovce) in Eastern Slovakia, DA119, is not Scandinavian-like (but Dutch-like).

We don't really know if this Poprad sample is Vandal or not.

I am modelled by genetic companies as a mix of Belarusian and Scandinavian. My DNA Tribes for example:

[rothaer]

We don't really know if this Poprad sample is Vandal or not.

That's what's implied by the word "assumingly". But him being an Eastern Germanic is not seriously contested.

I am modelled by genetic companies as a mix of Belarusian and Scandinavian. My DNA Tribes for example:

In your pic your Germanic is mostly modeled with Denmark, which is not in Scandinavia (Scandinavian Peninsula). I doubt there is at all provided NW Germany for modeling. So the fact that Denmark is chosen doesn't contradict the possibility that NW Germany is the most suitable proxy for your Germanic.

[Peterski]

Some Germanic samples from Slovakia are more Scandinavian-like than Dutch-like:

Distance to: SVK_Tes_Mlynany:R2207
0.02241866 Danish
0.02415170 Dutch
0.03038424 Swedish
0.07688148 Belarusian

[Peterski]

In your pic your Germanic is mostly modeled with Denmark, which is not in Scandinavia (Scandinavian Peninsula).

Denmark is considered part of Scandinavia.

Anyway, Gothic samples from Poland (from Weklice & Kowalewko) are Swedish-like, not Danish-like.

And here is how I get modelled as a mix of Belarusian (assumed Slavs) + Swedish (assumed Goths):

Target: Peterski_scaled
Distance: 2.6692% / 0.02669224
55.2 Belarusian
44.8 Swedish

[rothaer]

Some Germanic samples from Slovakia are more Scandinavian-like than Dutch-like:

Distance to: SVK_Tes_Mlynany:R2207
0.02241866 Danish
0.02415170 Dutch
0.03038424 Swedish
0.07688148 Belarusian

Here also Danish and Dutch come before Swedish, which is the only Scandinavian (Scandinavian Peninsula) reference visible.

[rothaer]

Denmark is considered part of Scandinavia.

Anyway, Gothic samples from Poland (from Weklice & Kowalewko) are Swedish-like, not Danish-like.

And here is how I get modelled as a mix of Belarusian (assumed Slavs) + Swedish (assumed Goths):

Target: Peterski_scaled
Distance: 2.6692% / 0.02669224
55.2 Belarusian
44.8 Swedish

Yes, the assumingly Gutonic samples from Wöklitz/Weklice are Scandinavian-like. Nobody questions that.

As for your modelling it does not imply that combination to be true. I regularly get modelled "untrue". Btw. do you now have more Germanic than me?