Population history in third-millennium-BC Europe: assessing the contribution of genetics

2016/08/03 by Marc Vander Linden · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Forensic and Genetic Research #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies #Sophistication #Ancient DNA #History #Population #Genetic data #Population genetics #Archaeology #Genealogy #Geography #Sociology #Demography #Social science

paper · doi:10.1080/00438243.2016.1209124

openalex publication_date 2016/08/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19

Abstract

Several recent high-profile aDNA studies have claimed to have identified major migrations during the third millennium BC in Europe. This contribution offers a brief review of these studies, and especially their role in understanding the genetic make-up of modern European populations. Although the technical sophistication of aDNA studies is beyond doubt, the underlying archaeological assumptions prove relatively naive and the findings at odd with more ‘traditional’ archaeological data. Although the existence of past migrations needs to be acknowledged and fully considered by archaeologists, it does not offer either a robust explanatory factor or an enduring platform for interdisciplinary dialogue between archaeology and genetics. Alternative hypotheses are briefly explored.

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Cited by

• Proto-Indo-European homeland [wikipedia]