Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory
Abstract The Eastern Italian Alps played a crucial bridging role between Mediterranean and Northern alpine populations since Prehistory. However, few prehistoric individuals from that region have been genomically analysed so far. Among them, the Iceman (Copper Age, 3368-3108 BC) showed a relatively...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8 |
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| author | Myriam Croze Alice Paladin Stefania Zingale Sofia Alemanno Franco Nicolis Elisabetta Mottes Frank Maixner Annaluisa Pedrotti Torsten Günther Albert Zink Valentina Coia |
| author_facet | Myriam Croze Alice Paladin Stefania Zingale Sofia Alemanno Franco Nicolis Elisabetta Mottes Frank Maixner Annaluisa Pedrotti Torsten Günther Albert Zink Valentina Coia |
| author_sort | Myriam Croze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Eastern Italian Alps played a crucial bridging role between Mediterranean and Northern alpine populations since Prehistory. However, few prehistoric individuals from that region have been genomically analysed so far. Among them, the Iceman (Copper Age, 3368-3108 BC) showed a relatively high Anatolian-Neolithic-related ancestry and low Hunter-Gatherers (HGs)-related ancestry. To investigate how the genomic structure of alpine groups varied over time and to contextualize the Iceman, we analysed 47 alpine individuals dated from the Mesolithic (6380-6107 BC) to Middle Bronze Age (1601-1295 BC). The Mesolithic genome reveals genetic admixture between Western and Eastern HGs that occurred from ~13700 − 8300 BC. Most individuals from the Neolithic onwards present a genomic structure resembling that of the Iceman, supporting genetic continuity. Few individuals carry different ancestries, such as the Steppe-related ones appearing ~2400 BC. Finally, the study suggests local and non-local admixture events between HGs and Neolithic farmers from this alpine area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-281d751f23144195b1e7553647ced4cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-281d751f23144195b1e7553647ced4cc2025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-61601-8Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territoryMyriam Croze0Alice Paladin1Stefania Zingale2Sofia Alemanno3Franco Nicolis4Elisabetta Mottes5Frank Maixner6Annaluisa Pedrotti7Torsten Günther8Albert Zink9Valentina Coia10Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Provincia autonoma di Trento, UMSt Soprintendenza per i beni e le attività culturali, Ufficio beni archeologici, Via Mantova 67Provincia autonoma di Trento, UMSt Soprintendenza per i beni e le attività culturali, Ufficio beni archeologici, Via Mantova 67Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Department of Humanities, University of Trento, Via T. Gar, 14Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityInstitute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1Abstract The Eastern Italian Alps played a crucial bridging role between Mediterranean and Northern alpine populations since Prehistory. However, few prehistoric individuals from that region have been genomically analysed so far. Among them, the Iceman (Copper Age, 3368-3108 BC) showed a relatively high Anatolian-Neolithic-related ancestry and low Hunter-Gatherers (HGs)-related ancestry. To investigate how the genomic structure of alpine groups varied over time and to contextualize the Iceman, we analysed 47 alpine individuals dated from the Mesolithic (6380-6107 BC) to Middle Bronze Age (1601-1295 BC). The Mesolithic genome reveals genetic admixture between Western and Eastern HGs that occurred from ~13700 − 8300 BC. Most individuals from the Neolithic onwards present a genomic structure resembling that of the Iceman, supporting genetic continuity. Few individuals carry different ancestries, such as the Steppe-related ones appearing ~2400 BC. Finally, the study suggests local and non-local admixture events between HGs and Neolithic farmers from this alpine area.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8 |
| spellingShingle | Myriam Croze Alice Paladin Stefania Zingale Sofia Alemanno Franco Nicolis Elisabetta Mottes Frank Maixner Annaluisa Pedrotti Torsten Günther Albert Zink Valentina Coia Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory Nature Communications |
| title | Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory |
| title_full | Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory |
| title_fullStr | Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory |
| title_short | Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory |
| title_sort | genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the tyrolean iceman s territory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8 |
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