New DNA study shows today’s Greeks are similar to those of 2,000 BC

·

Present-day Greeks are genetically similar to 2,000 BCE Aegeans from Northern Greece, an anthropological DNA research project published in the scientific journal, Cell, has found.

The research was led by Dr. Christina Papageorgopoulou of the Department of History and Ethnology of the Democritus University of Thrace and Dr. Anna-Sappho Malaspina of the Department of Computational Biology of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

The study involved the sequencing of entire genomes from four Early Bronze Age skeletons and two Middle Bronze Age skeletons found around Greece.

At first, researchers were able to discover that Early Bronze Age populations were quite genetically homogenous.

Dr. Christina Papageorgopoulou of the Department of History and Ethnology of the Democritus University of Thrace, is one of the authors of the study.

However, by the Middle Bronze Age, which began around 4,000 years ago, migration from the East caused DNA to differ significantly in comparison to Early Bronze Age Greeks.

The study found that Greeks of the Aegean from the Middle Bronze Age shared around half of their DNA with people from the Ponto-Caspian Steppe. This is an area which forms part of modern-day Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan.

These findings show that “today’s Greeks – who also carry Stepperelated ancestry – share 90% of their ancestry with their Middle Bronze Age counterparts, suggesting continuity between the two time periods.”

They also support other theories surrounding waves of migration from the East and the impact they had on Greek society.

Source: Keep Talking Greek.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Australia’s Cypriot communities to mark 51 years since Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Cypriot communities across Australia are preparing a series of events to mark the 51st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

From Bexley to Thessaloniki: Dimitri Sidiropoulos’ rise in Greek volleyball

Dimitri Sidiropoulos has has spread his wings and is showcasing his athletic talent in Greece, devoting his full love to volleyball.

STEM holiday program by Greek Community of Melbourne Schools a hit

The Greek Community of Melbourne’s Schools recently completed a successful and engaging educational initiative titled “STEM in Their Element"

Huge comeback win for St George Men’s team

The St George Men’s team faced a massive challenge: a 5am bus trip to Wagga Wagga to take on the formidable Wagga Wagga Heat.

Creditors of Bill Ferg’s Lobster Cave face total loss as rescue bid stalls

Creditors of Melbourne’s iconic seafood venue The Lobster Cave have been warned they are unlikely to recover any of the millions owed.

You May Also Like

Oakleigh Grammar students achieve excellent results in various Greek competitions

Oakleigh Grammar School students have received excellent results in various competitions organised by different Greek community organisations.

The 1956 Santorini earthquake and its devastating aftermath

On July 9, 1956, Santorini was hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the largest to ever be seen in Europe in the 20th century.

George Peppou’s cultured meat company to make substantial cuts to workforce

Sydney-based start-up Vow, pioneering cultured meat production, is laying off 25 staff members due to slow regulatory approvals.