quote:The harsh climate of Arabia has posed challenges in generating ancient DNA from the region, hindering the direct examination of ancient genomes for understanding the demographic processes that shaped Arabian populations. In this study, we report whole genome sequence data obtained from four Tylos-period individuals from Bahrain. Their genetic ancestry can be modelled as a mixture of sources from ancient Anatolia, Levant and Iran/Caucasus, with variation between individuals suggesting population heterogeneity in Bahrain before the onset of Islam. We identify the G6PD Mediterranean mutation associated with malaria-resistance in three out of four ancient Bahraini samples and estimate that it rose in frequency in Eastern Arabia from 5-6 kya onwards, around the time agriculture appeared in the region. Our study provides the first characterisation of the genetic composition of ancient Arabians, shedding light on the population history of Bahrain and demonstrating the feasibility of aDNA studies in the region.
In case anyone is curious about their phenotype:
quote:We used HIrisPlex-S 39 to predict hair, skin and eye colour phenotypes of the Bahrain_Tylos samples. All four samples were predicted to have brown eyes (>99% probability). For hair colour, the prediction was either Brown (~50%) or Black (~50%). Two samples (MH2_LT and MH3_LT) were predicted to have “Dark” skin pigmentation (>90%), whereas the results for the remaining two samples were less certain, with AS_EMT potentially having relatively lighter skin pigmentation (Table S10). The predicted phenotypes found in ancient Bahrain are similar to present-day Middle Easterners and South Asians. Within these regions, subtle geographical trends occur at the level of skin pigmentation. Specifically, non-Bedouin Levantine groups from the HGDP tend to have higher proportions of “Intermediate” skin pigmentation, while Pakistanis tend to have higher proportions of “Dark” skin than most Levantine populations, especially in the South.
Sample AS_EMT The earliest sample AS_EMT carries the mtDNA J1c15a1 haplogroup previously reported in two present-day samples from Iraq 45 and Azerbaijan 46, groups who typically carry Iranian- and CHG-related ancestry
Sample MH1_LT Sample MH1_LT, the only other male sample in our dataset, presented the J2a2a1a~ lineage, which in a phylogeny with 2,014 individuals is carried by a present-day Brahmin and an Uighur individual. In the aDNA record, this lineage and derived haplotypes have been identified in two Turkish individuals (Gordion_Anc and Mediaeval), in a Canaanite and in an Iron Age Hasanlu individual 12,42, and in various present-day Central Asian samples from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. An eastern origin (Iran-Caucasus region) for haplogroup J2 is likely, given that the earliest occurrence of this lineage in the aDNA record is in hunter-gatherers from Caucasus and Iran 11,43, with the latter being placed at the base of the J2a clade (Figure S8B). MH1_LT’s inclusion in this Y-chromosomal clade is consistent with the subtle excess in shared autosomal ancestry with CHG/IRN_HajjiFiruz_IA individuals in this sample (Figure 2C). Strikingly, neither of these lineages were found in present-day Arabians 20. Their presence in both western (Anatolia/Levant) and eastern (Iran/Caucasus/Central Asia) ancient samples reflects connectivity between these ancient civilisations as early as the pre-pottery Neolithic (as attested by the presence of eastern ancestry and J2 Y-chromosome lineage in Cayonu_PPN 44) which apparently intensified during post-Neolithic times MH1_LT belonging to the (mtDNA) R2 haplogroup which is predominantly South Asian (southern Pakistan and India), but also distributed in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia47. In the ancient DNA record, this lineage is most frequent in Iranian groups, including three Neolithic and two BIA/LBA individuals
Sample MH1_LT Individual MH3_LT carried the H2 haplogroup which is associated with the spread of Near Eastern and Anatolian farmers into Europe. MH3_LT presents the (mtDNA) U8b1a2a haplogroup, also found in two ancient LBA Armenians, two Turkish (one ChL and the other dated to 750-480 BCE) 42 and in a present-day Jordanian individual 49 , suggesting distribution in the Caucasus, Levant and Anatolia, and consistent with the increased Levantine and Anatolian affinities of this sample. These observations support extensive female as well as male migration in ancient West Asia including Eastern Arabia. ___________________________________________ https://tinyurl.com/5n8aehap
Haplogroup H (Y-DNA)
Haplogroup H (Y-DNA), also known as H-L901/M2939 is a Y-chromosome haplogroup. The primary branch H1 (H-M69) and its subclades is one of the most predominant haplogroups amongst populations in South Asia, particularly its descendant H1a1 (M52).
the primary branch H2 (P96) seems to have been found in sparse levels primarily in Europe and West Asia since prehistory. Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) is part of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, a Neolithic culture centered in upper Mesopotamia and the Levant, dating to c. 10,800 – c. 8,500 years ago has been found in remains also the later Linear Pottery culture and Neolithic Iberia.[5][6] H2 likely entered Europe during the Neolithic with the spread of agriculture.[6][7] Its present distribution is made up of various individual cases spread out throughout Europe and West Asia today.
H2 (H-P96) The earliest sample of H2 is found in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B culture of the Levant 10,000 years ago.[13] From ancient samples, it is clear that H2 also has a strong association with the spread of agriculture from Anatolia into Europe, and is commonly found with haplogroup G2a.[14] H2 was found in Neolithic Anatolia, as well as in multiple later Neolithic cultures of Europe, such as the Vinča culture in Serbia,[15] and the Megalith culture of Western Europe.
quote: H2 (H-P96) is a very rare modern haplogroup, with only 19 individuals being downstream of H2-P96 on YFull at the time of this publication. ~ Using Y-chromosome capture enrichment to resolve haplogroup H2 shows new evidence for a two-path Neolithic expansion to Western Europe Adam B. Rohrlach, 2021
The author explains how Dilmun much like the ports of Sumer and Harappa were sites of large mercantile centers and had burials of people related to the Bronze Age trading sites of the Persian Gulf especially Sumerians.
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