A revolutionary method called Twigstats has shed light on migration waves across Europe during the first millennium AD by analyzing ancient DNA with high precision. This research, conducted by the Francis Crick Institute, identified key migration patterns, including the movement of Germanic-speaking groups southward and their subsequent return to Scandinavia, as well as the expansion of Viking Age populations. By assessing over 1,500 genomes, the study provided genetic confirmation of historical movements linked to Germanic, Roman, and Viking interactions.
Twigstats enhances the ability to detect subtle genetic differences among closely related populations, revealing crowding migration routes and ancestral ties. For instance, a significant migration of Germanic groups into Southern Germany, Italy, and Britain occurred during the early Iron Age. Additionally, the method highlighted a northward migration of populations into Scandinavia before the Viking Age and exposed connections between local and Scandinavian ancestry in Viking Age remains across Europe.
The study underscores the importance of genetic evidence in understanding historical migrations that shaped Europe’s political and cultural landscape. The findings open new possibilities for investigating ancient population dynamics and improving the understanding of Europe’s shared history.
