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Skeleton Of 7,100 Years Found In China Reveals Unknown Human Lineage That May Have Influenced The Origin Of Tibetans
A recent discovery in southwest China has uncovered an unknown human lineage. The skeleton found may help clarify part of Asia’s evolutionary history, particularly regarding the origins of the Tibetan people.
The find occurred at the archaeological site of Xingyi, located in the Chinese province of Yunnan. During excavations in the region, archaeologists identified dozens of burials. These tombs cover a period from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
Among the various human remains, a female skeleton stood out. At approximately 7,100 years old, it was identified as Xingyi_EN. The antiquity is impressive, but what really caught the attention of scientists was the unique genetic profile presented by the sample.
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The research team was analyzing ancient human remains to map the genetic diversity of Central China.
However, the DNA analysis of Xingyi_EN revealed something unexpected. Unlike the known populations of East or South Asia, the skeleton belongs to a “profoundly divergent” lineage.
This group remained isolated for thousands of years. Scientists called this lineage Xingyi of Basal Asia. According to the analyses, the separation of this population from other human groups occurred at least 40,000 years ago.
The discovery represents the first physical record of a so-called “ghost population.” These extinct human groups left behind few archaeological traces. However, their existence is inferred through statistical analyses of both modern and ancient DNA.
The presence of this lineage in the skeleton of Xingyi_EN indicates that, at some point, there was interbreeding with other peoples. This mixing may have genetically contributed to the ancestors of some of the Tibetans who live today.
Despite the significance of the discovery, the scientists responsible for the study, published in the journal Science this Wednesday, 29, urge caution. The main reason is that the genetic evidence was obtained from only one individual.
Therefore, more excavations and analyses will be necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the role of this lineage in the history of human evolution in Asia.
With new studies underway, there is hope that this previously hidden lineage may take on more defined contours, revealing new pieces of a still little-known past of humanity.
With information from Adventures in History.
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