Two DNA studies on skeletons found in Germany revealed that European ancestors may have been hunters and farmers.
Dr. Wofgang Haak, lead researcher from the Australian Centre for DNA (ACAD), and his team analyzed a total of 364 skeletal remains unearthed in the Mittelelbe-Saale area in Germany. They extracted the DNA and investigated the mitochondrial DNA lineage or mtDNA.
"This is the largest and most detailed genetic time series of Europe yet created, allowing us to establish a complete genetic chronology." This means that it is possible to "directly observe genetic changes in 'real-time' from 7,500 to 3,500 years ago, from the earliest farmers to the early Bronze Age," Haak told BBC.
Their findings revealed that the Central Europe's native ancestors, who were hunters and farmers or gatherers 7,500 years ago, were mostly Anatolia migrants. Most of these hunting parties were from the haplogroup U maternal lineage. The farmers in contrast had different types of maternal ancestry that were typical in the Near East.
Introduction of farming in Scandinavia happened around the same time and area the Neolithic mtDNA manifested 6,100 years ago.
From the DNA analysis of maternal lineages, the population of native farmers in Central Europe waned while the hunters and gatherers were back after around a thousand years. Possible explanations could be epidemics or changes in the climate but this would need further studies.
Another study, led by Ruth Bollongino from the University of Mainz, suggests that the two ancient groups, the hunter-gatherer and the farmers thrived as neighbors two millenniums after farming was brought into the area. However, they lived in close-knit groups without allowing intermarriage.
Maternal lineages found 4,800 years ago was believed to have come from the East and had the characteristics of the Corded-Ware people who are known for their pottery patterns. Their mtDNA analysis provides similar attributes on current Eastern Europe's Baltic and Caucasus regions.
Based on both studies, it seemed that the present-day European DNA is a result of a complex mix of lineage from hunter and farmer migrants.
"When you look at today's populations, what you are seeing is a hazy palimpsest of what actually went on to create present-day patterns, Genographic Project Director and National Geographic explorer Spencer Wells told BBC.
Both studies were published in the online journal Science.
