Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa
Abstract Background The Islamic influence on the Iberian Peninsula left an enduring cultural and linguistic legacy. However, the demographic impact is less well understood. This study aims to explore the dynamics of gene flow and population structure in eastern Iberia from the early to late medieval...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Genome Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03570-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849325874198872064 |
|---|---|
| author | Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia Marina Silva M. George B. Foody Bobby Yau Alessandro Fichera Llorenç Alapont Pierre Justeau Simão Rodrigues Rita Monteiro Francesca Gandini María Luisa Rovira Gomar Albert Ribera i Lacomba Josep Pascual Beneyto Valeria Mattiangeli Daniel G. Bradley Ceiridwen J. Edwards Maria Pala Martin B. Richards |
| author_facet | Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia Marina Silva M. George B. Foody Bobby Yau Alessandro Fichera Llorenç Alapont Pierre Justeau Simão Rodrigues Rita Monteiro Francesca Gandini María Luisa Rovira Gomar Albert Ribera i Lacomba Josep Pascual Beneyto Valeria Mattiangeli Daniel G. Bradley Ceiridwen J. Edwards Maria Pala Martin B. Richards |
| author_sort | Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Islamic influence on the Iberian Peninsula left an enduring cultural and linguistic legacy. However, the demographic impact is less well understood. This study aims to explore the dynamics of gene flow and population structure in eastern Iberia from the early to late medieval period through ancient DNA. Results Our comprehensive genomic analysis uncovers gene flow from various Mediterranean regions into Iberia before the Islamic period, supporting a pre-existing pan-Mediterranean homogenization phenomenon during the Roman Empire. North African ancestry is present but sporadic in late antiquity genomes but becomes consolidated during the Islamic period. We uncover one of the earliest dated Islamic burials in Spain, which shows high levels of consanguinity. For the first time, we also demonstrate the persistence of North African ancestry in a Christian cemetery until the seventeenth century, in addition to evidence of slave trafficking from North Africa. Conclusions This study reveals the complex interaction between political events and cultural shifts that influenced the population of eastern Iberia. It highlights the existence of a slave trade, underscores the low impact of the Reconquista in the genetic landscape, and shows the lasting impact of post-medieval events, such as the Expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609 CE, on the region’s genetic and cultural landscape, through mass population displacement and replacement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2464dd5be4e54ea0a17c3aabb8c716aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1474-760X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genome Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2464dd5be4e54ea0a17c3aabb8c716aa2025-08-20T03:48:18ZengBMCGenome Biology1474-760X2025-04-0126112210.1186/s13059-025-03570-1Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North AfricaGonzalo Oteo-Garcia0Marina Silva1M. George B. Foody2Bobby Yau3Alessandro Fichera4Llorenç Alapont5Pierre Justeau6Simão Rodrigues7Rita Monteiro8Francesca Gandini9María Luisa Rovira Gomar10Albert Ribera i Lacomba11Josep Pascual Beneyto12Valeria Mattiangeli13Daniel G. Bradley14Ceiridwen J. Edwards15Maria Pala16Martin B. Richards17School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateDepartment of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, University of ValenciaSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateMuseu Arqueològic Municipal de la Vall d’UixóCentro Arqueológico de l’Almoina & SIAMMuseu Arqueològic d’Ontinyent i la Vall d’AlbaidaSmurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity CollegeSmurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity CollegeSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, QueensgateAbstract Background The Islamic influence on the Iberian Peninsula left an enduring cultural and linguistic legacy. However, the demographic impact is less well understood. This study aims to explore the dynamics of gene flow and population structure in eastern Iberia from the early to late medieval period through ancient DNA. Results Our comprehensive genomic analysis uncovers gene flow from various Mediterranean regions into Iberia before the Islamic period, supporting a pre-existing pan-Mediterranean homogenization phenomenon during the Roman Empire. North African ancestry is present but sporadic in late antiquity genomes but becomes consolidated during the Islamic period. We uncover one of the earliest dated Islamic burials in Spain, which shows high levels of consanguinity. For the first time, we also demonstrate the persistence of North African ancestry in a Christian cemetery until the seventeenth century, in addition to evidence of slave trafficking from North Africa. Conclusions This study reveals the complex interaction between political events and cultural shifts that influenced the population of eastern Iberia. It highlights the existence of a slave trade, underscores the low impact of the Reconquista in the genetic landscape, and shows the lasting impact of post-medieval events, such as the Expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609 CE, on the region’s genetic and cultural landscape, through mass population displacement and replacement.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03570-1 |
| spellingShingle | Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia Marina Silva M. George B. Foody Bobby Yau Alessandro Fichera Llorenç Alapont Pierre Justeau Simão Rodrigues Rita Monteiro Francesca Gandini María Luisa Rovira Gomar Albert Ribera i Lacomba Josep Pascual Beneyto Valeria Mattiangeli Daniel G. Bradley Ceiridwen J. Edwards Maria Pala Martin B. Richards Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa Genome Biology |
| title | Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa |
| title_full | Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa |
| title_fullStr | Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa |
| title_short | Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa |
| title_sort | medieval genomes from eastern iberia illuminate the role of morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long standing genetic bridge with north africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03570-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gonzalooteogarcia medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT marinasilva medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT mgeorgebfoody medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT bobbyyau medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT alessandrofichera medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT llorencalapont medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT pierrejusteau medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT simaorodrigues medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT ritamonteiro medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT francescagandini medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT marialuisaroviragomar medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT albertriberailacomba medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT joseppascualbeneyto medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT valeriamattiangeli medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT danielgbradley medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT ceiridwenjedwards medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT mariapala medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica AT martinbrichards medievalgenomesfromeasterniberiailluminatetheroleofmoriscomassdeportationsindismantlingalongstandinggeneticbridgewithnorthafrica |