Scientists find first genetic evidence of multiracial population in ancient China

By studying DNA from ancient human remains on the Silk Road, scientists have found two people who were offspring from genetically distinguishable groups

The individuals date back to as early as 220AD, with the findings ‘filling the knowledge gap’ in the history of ancient China

Reading Time:3 minutes

Dunhuang, in China’s Gansu province, is an ancient city on the Silk Road where scientists have now found evidence of a mixed-race population dating as early as 220AD. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:00pm, 23 Dec 2023

Chinese scientists have found the first genetic evidence of a multiracial population in ancient China after studying the DNA of remains found at an important intersection on the Silk Road.

Using palaeogenomic methods, scientists confirmed they have found two humans with an East-West admixture – which occurs when individuals from genetically distinguishable groups produce offspring – while studying remains in a cemetery in the ancient city of Dunhuang.

One person, who was alive during the Cao-Wei dynasty (220-265AD), had West Eurasian genetic components as high as 30 per cent, while the other person, alive during the Tang dynasty (618-907AD), had a West Eurasian genetic component of up to half.

The findings showed that in both cases, it was the person’s mother who was from the West, which differed from the academics’ previous assumption.

It means that the two individuals were more than likely the offspring of local men and “exotic” women from the West – called “Hu Ji” in Chinese classic literature.

Wen Shaoqing, an associate professor at Fudan University in Shanghai and an author of the study, said that with the genome information available, they could not pinpoint the exact location of “the West”, which in modern terms usually refers to Europe.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x