| Description |
Recent paleogenomic studies of Xinjiang revealed the dynamic demographic history in this region since the Bronze Age. However, the spatiotemporal ancestry change related to Yellow River (YR) millet farmers has been unsolved. Here, we presented genomic data from 4 individuals from the Jirentaigoukou (JRTGK) site dating to 4,400 B.P to 2,300 B.P and 44 individuals from the Lafuqueke (LFQK) cemetery dating to the Historical Era ranging from the Tang Dynasty and Gaochang-Uyghur period. We found a genetic transformation that occurred in Late Bronze Aage with the disappearance of indigenous ancestry and the gene inflow of YR ancestry. The presence of YR ancestry in JRTGK indicated the first identification of YR ancestry in Bronze Age Xinjiang. We also observed the increase of YR ancestry over time. Hence, the genetic contribution of YR ancestry was more extensive and frequent from the Iron Age to the Historical Era, showing the widespread presence of YR ancestry in populations of the Historical Era, and the proportion reached up to 100% in LFQK. These findings suggested that the enhancement of the Central Plains government's control of Xinjiang and the opening of the ancient Silk Road promoted the demographic contacts between Xinjiang and the Central Plains. |
