A recent study from Lund University in Sweden has revealed that the arrival of the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago led to the complete eradication of the hunter-gatherer population within a few generations. This groundbreaking discovery, based on DNA analysis of skeletons and teeth found in present-day Denmark, challenges existing beliefs about the peaceful transition between the two groups.
The research indicates that there have been two significant population turnovers in Denmark over the past 7,300 years. The first occurred 5,900 years ago when a new population of farmers, distinct in origin and appearance, displaced the existing gatherers, hunters, and fishers in Scandinavia. This transition was far from peaceful, as it likely involved violent conflict and the introduction of new pathogens from livestock that contributed to the demise of the hunter-gatherer population.
About 4,850 years ago, another population change occurred when individuals with genetic ties to the Yamnaya people, originating from southern Russia, arrived in Scandinavia and supplanted the existing farmer population. These newcomers, known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle and animal husbandry, further reshaped the genetic landscape of the region.
The modern genetic profile of Denmark reflects a blend of Yamnaya and Eastern European Neolithic people, with the DNA of the original farmer population being largely replaced. This study sheds new light on the complex and tumultuous history of human settlement in Scandinavia.
2024-02-12 10:00:06
Link from phys.org