Ancient DNA has revealed that Roman rule changed Spain’s genetic makeup far more than the Visigoths and other Germanic groups that arrived centuries later.
A new study of 243 ancient genomes shows that migration during the Roman period introduced substantial ancestry from the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa. The Visigoths later controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula, but their genetic impact was considerably smaller.
The findings, published in the journal Cell, show how political conquest did not always lead to major population changes. Researchers examined human remains from 31 archaeological sites dating from the first to the eighth centuries A.D. The international team included scientists from Harvard University, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of the Basque Country.
Ancient DNA reveals how Rome transformed Spain’s population
Rome began conquering the Iberian Peninsula in the third century B.C. Over the following centuries, the region became part of the Roman Empire. Earlier research found that ancient Iberians maintained genetic continuity despite Greek and Phoenician influence before Roman expansion introduced new ancestry. Of the 66 Roman-era individuals examined, only six had ancestry that researchers could explain entirely through earlier local populations.
Another 55 individuals, or 83%, carried ancestry linked to the eastern Mediterranean, particularly western Anatolia, a region with a substantial ancient Greek population and home to some of the most important cities of ancient Greek civilization.
North African ancestry was also widespread. At southern archaeological sites, 33 of 34 individuals carried this ancestry, accounting for about 27% of their DNA on average. Despite Rome’s political control, researchers found relatively little genetic ancestry directly associated with Italy.
Only eight of 269 individuals with usable DNA from the Roman and early post-Roman periods showed clearly identifiable Italian ancestry. However, the results cannot establish where every migrant was born. A separate ancient DNA study of the Balkans also identified migration from western Anatolia during Roman rule, with little evidence of ancestry linked directly to Italy.
Visigothic rule did not bring widespread population replacement
Germanic groups entered the Iberian Peninsula as Roman authority weakened during the fifth century. The Suebi, Alans, and Vandals arrived in 409. The Visigoths later established a kingdom that controlled much of the peninsula until the early eighth century. Among 164 individuals examined from the period of Germanic migrations, 53 carried ancestry associated with central or northern Europe.
Researchers estimated that this ancestry contributed between 12% and 22% in the populations studied, depending on the region and burial setting. Of 52 individuals buried in cemeteries containing Germanic-style objects, 29 carried central or northern European ancestry. Several belonged to high-status groups. However, burial traditions did not always reflect genetic origins.
New DNA research reveals that some women buried with Germanic-style treasures had local ancestry, offering surprising clues about identity and elite society 1,500 years ago. pic.twitter.com/fDXE4b8ogN
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 22, 2026
In Mérida, researchers examined women buried with valuable jewelry, sometimes called the “Suebian princesses.” One had local ancestry despite receiving a burial associated with Germanic elites. The finding suggests that marriage and political alliances connected migrant groups with established Hispano-Roman families. A separate ancient DNA study of Rome’s former frontier in southern Germany also found evidence of intermarriage and population mixing following the decline of Roman authority.
Ancient DNA uncovers siblings buried 450 miles apart
Researchers also identified two siblings buried approximately 450 miles apart, offering rare evidence of family movement during the Germanic migrations. A woman was buried near a Roman road station in Castellón, while her brother was buried in Mérida. Both had ancestry entirely linked to central and northern Europe, suggesting they were likely first-generation migrants.
The woman’s grave contained gold pins and a glass cup associated with traditions from the Danube region. Researchers suggest the burial locations may reflect a migration route used by the Suebi during the fifth century. Roman roads connected the two sites, although the siblings’ exact journey remains unknown.
Ancient DNA raises questions about Spain’s later population
The study found that populations across the Iberian Peninsula were genetically more diverse during late antiquity than they are today. Researchers believe the Islamic conquests and later medieval population movements contributed to further genetic changes. However, limited ancient DNA from medieval Iberia and North Africa makes it difficult to determine when and how these changes occurred.
Further research could help explain how the diverse population established during Roman rule developed into the ancestry patterns seen across Spain and Portugal today.
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