ANCIENT MIGRATIONS OF SAMOYEDS AND YENISEIANS IN LIGHT OF GENETIC DATA
Analysis of the distribution of genetic haplogroups reveals the homeland of these groups and clarifies the direction of migrations of the genetic ancestors of the modern Samoyedic and Yeniseian people. This article examines migrations of ancient Samoyeds and Yeniseians based on the analysis of Y-chromosome markers. The main male haplogroup of Samoyeds is a genetic haplogroup N1b. Ancient Samoyeds migrated from Sayan to the Lower Ob region along the Yenisei River. Samoyeds then migrated from the north to the south along the Ob River. These results are thus, a confirmation of the so-called Sayan theory, according to which Sayan region is a place of origin of Samoyeds. Ancient migrations of Yeniseian people are marked by haplogroup Q1a3. This group is represented with a frequency of 84% in the gene pool of Kets. Genetic ancestors of Kets migrated from Sayan to the north along the Yenisei River. In their majority, Selkups also share the haplogroup Q (66.4%). Thus, the core component of the gene pool of Selkups is the component that is related to that of Kets. Genetic ancestors of Selkups are ancient migrants from the south of Central Asia (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan). Reconstruction of ancient migrations of Samoyeds and Yeniseians suggests that haplogroup Q1a3 could be present in the Samus culture and other cultures of the Middle and Upper Ob. Genetic data correlates well with the archaeological and linguistic methods. Conclusion. The use of genetic data can more accurately identify the ancient migrations of the populations and verify various existing hypotheses based on linguistic and archaeological data.
Keywords: genetics, archeology, Samoyeds, Yeniseians, Selkups, Samus culture, crestdimple pottery culture, haplogroups, Ob region, Western Siberia
Issue: 1, 2013
Series of issue: Issue № 1
Rubric: ANTHROPOLOGY
Pages: 79 — 96
Downloads: 1752