New DNA evidence is offering scientists a clearer view into how early communities in what is now China lived, moved, and developed the foundations of Chinese civilization.
Researchers say the genetic data provide direct insight into population mixing, cultural exchange, and social structure in the Neolithic period, including the earliest known example of a patrilineal kinship system in East Asia.
The study, led by Professors Huang Yanyi and Pang Yuhong of the Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC) at Peking University, was conducted in collaboration with Yunnan University and Minzu University of China. Findings were published Sept. 30 in Nature Communications.
Focusing on the Baligang archaeological site in Henan Province — located between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers — the team examined how ancient groups in the north and south interacted over thousands of years.
These river basins are considered key birthplaces of early Chinese civilization, marked by millet and rice farming, respectively.
Baligang site reveals cross-regional cultural exchange
Archaeological records show uninterrupted settlement at Baligang from roughly 8,500 to 2,500 years ago, including a shift from rice to millet cultivation.
While cultural artifacts pointed to evolving traditions, the lack of genetic data had left major questions about population movements unanswered until now.
Using advanced ancient DNA techniques, researchers analyzed genome sequences from 58 individuals who lived in the area between the Middle Neolithic and the Late Bronze Age. Results revealed a long-standing mix of northern and southern East Asian ancestry.
However, this genetic blend did not always shift in step with changes in farming practices or pottery styles, suggesting that cultural ideas often spread through exchange rather than mass migration.
Ancient burial site shows evidence of a patrilineal society
One of the most notable discoveries came from a collective burial site known as M13, which contained more than 90 individuals.
Among 75 analyzed, all male remains shared a single Y-chromosome lineage, while the females had diverse maternal lines. According to Professor Pang, this indicates a patrilineal and patrilocal social structure where men remained in their birthplace and women joined from outside groups.
Genetic modeling showed that this group likely belonged to one extended male kin network of over 200 individuals.
The study sheds new light on how early farming societies in East Asia responded to environmental change and organized their communities. A rise in southern ancestry around 4,200 years ago, coinciding with a global climate shift, likely reflects a northward movement of rice-farming groups.
Beyond China, the research deepens global understanding of how ancient populations developed their social and genetic identities over time.
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