An international team of researchers, co-led by Krishna R. Veeramah, a primate genomicist and population geneticist at Stony Brook University, has unveiled previously undiscovered findings on ancient DNA.
In a press release published on Aug. 22, 2024, the team revealed significant insights into the genetic diversity of post-Roman elites; upperclassmen in Roman society that retained power after the fall of the Roman Empire. This research represents a significant advancement in the field of historical genetics, providing a deeper understanding of how populations evolved and interacted during the post-Roman period.
“The ability to look at the changes with genetics is a new thing,” Veeramah said.
Veeramah and the international team working on the project were able to discover that the elite members of society during that period were very diverse in genetics. Their findings indicate that the genetic makeup of these elites was influenced by various factors, including migration patterns, intermarriage and social structures.
This diversity highlights the intricate and multifaceted nature of population dynamics in historical contexts. The study’s results offer valuable insights into the genetic landscape of ancient populations, contributing to a broader comprehension of human history and evolution.
“The hard thing is always interdisciplinary research bringing everything together,” Veeramah said.
In interdisciplinary research, each field brings its own methodologies, terminologies and perspectives. The difficulty lies in synthesizing varied approaches to create a unified narrative or solution. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for comprehensive studies like this one, where genetics, archaeology and history intersect to provide a fuller picture of the past.
“I really like this framework where the idea of comprehension studies is a more refined way to be able to study sites more clearly and effectively,” Yijie Tian, a researcher on Veeramah’s team, said.
Veeramah’s research uncovers insight into the social stratification of ancient societies. The discovery of these post-Roman elite individuals buried with rich grave goods suggests a clear distinction in status and wealth within the community. These grave goods, which include items such as jewelry, weapons and pottery, indicate that those individuals held significant power and influence.
The cemetery is divided into two distinct sections, each reflecting different social classes. The elite graves are marked by their opulence, while the other section contains more modest burials. Furthermore, Veeramah notes that the differences between these two groups are not just in the grave goods, but also in other aspects such as burial practices and possibly even the physical characteristics of the individuals. This suggests a complex social structure where the elite maintained their status through various means, including the display of wealth in death.
“We had a genetically very diverse group of individuals within a very small area,” Veeramah said.
This genetic diversity within a confined area underscores the dynamic and interconnected nature of ancient populations. It suggests that even within elite groups, there was a significant degree of genetic variation, likely due to factors such as migration and intermarriage. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the homogeneity of elite classes and provides a more nuanced understanding of social and genetic structures in historical contexts.
“We will apply the methods used for these studies in new regions,” Tian said.
