Xionghu-Hun-Turkey- DNA connection

DNA from a 2,000-year-old burial site in Mongolia has revealed new information about the Xiongnu, a nomadic tribe that once reigned in Central Asia. Researchers in France studied DNA from more than 62 skeletons to reconstruct the history and social organization of a long-forgotten culture.

Ancient grave in the Egyin Gol necropolis. Courtesy E. Crubezy, Universit� Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France

The researchers found that interbreeding between Europeans and Asians occurred much earlier than previously thought. They also found DNA sequences similar to those in present-day Turks, supporting the idea that some of the Turkish people originated in Mongolia.

The research also provides glimpses into the Xiongnu culture. Elaborate burials were reserved for the elite members of society, who were often buried with sacrificial animals and humans at the time of burial. And relatives were often buried next to each other.

�This is the first time that a complete view of the social organization of an ancient cemetery based on genetic data was obtained,� says Christine Keyser-Tracqui of the Institut de M�decine L�gale in Strasbourg, France. �It also helps us understand the history of contacts between the Asiatic and European populations more than 2,000 years ago.�