Mitochondrial DNA Suggests a Western Eurasian Origin for Ancient (Proto-) Bulgarians

Document Type

Article

Authors

Desislava Valentinova Nesheva, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, BulgariaFollow
Sena Karachanak-Yankova, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, BulgariaFollow
Martina Lari, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyFollow
Yordan Yordanov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, BulgariaFollow
Angel Galabov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, BulgariaFollow
David Caramelli, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyFollow
Draga Toncheva, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, BulgariaFollow

Open Access Pre-Print

http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol_preprints/69/

Abstract

Ancient (proto-) Bulgarians have long been thought of as a Turkic population. However, evidence found in the past three decades shows that this is not the case. Until now, this evidence has not included ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. To fijill this void, we collected human remains from the 8th to the 10th century ad located in three necropolises in Bulgaria: Nojarevo (Silistra region) and Monastery of Mostich (Shumen region), both in northeastern Bulgaria, and Tuhovishte (Satovcha region) in south- western Bulgaria. The phylogenetic analysis of 13 ancient DNA samples (extracted from teeth) identifijied 12 independent haplotypes, which we further classifijied into mtDNA haplogroups found in present-day European and western Eurasian populations. Our results suggest a western Eurasian matrilineal origin for proto-Bulgarians, as well as a genetic similarity between proto- and modern Bulgarians. Our future work will provide additional data that will further clarify proto-Bulgarian origins, thereby adding new clues to the current understanding of European genetic evolution.

Recommended Citation

Nesheva, Desislava Valentinova; Karachanak-Yankova, Sena; Lari, Martina; Yordanov, Yordan; Galabov, Angel; Caramelli, David; and Toncheva, Draga (2015) "Mitochondrial DNA Suggests a Western Eurasian Origin for Ancient (Proto-) Bulgarians," Human Biology: Vol. 87: Iss. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol87/iss1/1