Early Medieval Neighbors in Austria Shared Few Genes

Archaeology Magazine ^ | January 16, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

According to a statement released by the Max Planck Society of Evolutionary Anthropology, DNA samples from all of the human remains unearthed in lower Austria from the neighboring early medieval burial sites at Mödling and Leobersdorf have been analyzed. The study determined that all of the nearly 150 individuals buried at Leobersdorf were mostly of East Asian origin, while the 500 individuals buried at Mödling shared an ancestry associated with European populations. "The genetic difference between these groups was very clear and consistent for most of the individuals at the sites," said geneticist Ke Wang of Fudan University. Yet the archaeological remains left behind by the two communities are Avar in style and very similar to each other, added Walter Pohl of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The Avars migrated from the East Asian steppes to Central Europe in the sixth century A.D., and it had been previously thought that they mixed with the local populations. Two centuries later, however, the inhabitants of Mödling and Leobersdorf shared culture and customs but few genes. "Most likely both considered themselves Avars," concluded archaeologist Bendeguz Tobias of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

[SunkenCiv]

Avar-period cloak clasp from a female grave at Moedling, Austria

© Benedict Seidl

[SunkenCiv]

When I moved the on-deck article files into an On Deck folder, I started to lose track of how many I hadn't posted. This is actually thanks to many helpful FReepers who have been posting good topics!

[jerod]

Apparently... They liked keeping it in the family, so to speak. I.E. Appalachia in Europe.

A pretty common thing back in the day.

[BenLurkin]

Obviously a peaceful people. A calm community.

[dljordan]

“Appalachia in Europe.”

You do realize (of course if you’re a Yankee I doubt it) the Appalachians run from Alabama to Canada.

[sausageseller]

He is Canadian .
Typical .

[jerod]

My reference to the Appalachian region is in terms of incest, which is stereotypical to Appalachia... The reason why these neighbors in Europe shared few genes is because they didn’t intermingle... They were incestuous, like those in Appalachia regions within the US stereotypically are.

[dljordan]

You left out New Jersey and Canada.

[jerod]

If your daddy's daddy, and his daddy's daddy and his daddy's daddy and so on so forth come from the area where you are currently living... You'll likely come across a cousin or two and get married to them, and so on and so forth.

Sh*t like that happens in small towns.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Just because they did not marry into the tribe across the way does not mean that they did not marry outside their group.

Maybe that other group were vegans.

[reasonisfaith]

I’ve taken interest in the eastern barbarian tribes to some extent and for a specific reason, although I really don’t know much about them and it’s entirely possible I’m using the wrong term here.

Anyway, there seems to be two different Azar groups, one of which has been designated the Pannonian Azars.

https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsEurope/BarbarianAvars.htm

[jerod]

Incest isn't that bad... As long as you're born into the right family.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

[dljordan]

Huh? Wut?

[SunkenCiv]

thx