**Ancient Siberian Ancestry Links Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian Speakers, Study Reveals**
A groundbreaking study published in *Nature* reveals that modern Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian speakers share significant Siberian ancestry, tracing back to a group from the Altai Mountains around 4,500 years ago. Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from 180 individuals in northern Eurasia, dating from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, and compared them to over 1,300 previously sequenced ancient genomes and modern populations. The findings highlight a genetic signature called *Yakutia_LNBA*, strongly associated with ancient and present-day Uralic-speaking groups. These populations, unlike their Indo-European neighbors, carry distinct East Asian ancestry, suggesting a westward migration from Siberia that coincided with the spread of Uralic languages.
The *Yakutia_LNBA* group, linked to the Ymyyakhtakh culture of northeast Siberia, was likely patrilineal, as indicated by Y-chromosome patterns. Archaeological evidence shows their influence extended to the Altai-Sayan region around 4,000 years ago, aligning with the proposed spread of early Uralic-speaking communities. However, while genetics provide clues about migration, experts caution against directly equating DNA with language. Catherine Frieman, an archaeologist not involved in the study, emphasizes that multilingualism and cultural interactions complicate the link between ancestry and linguistic identity.
Despite these complexities, the study offers compelling evidence that Siberian ancestry played a key role in shaping Uralic-speaking populations. Lead author Tian Chen Zeng notes that *Yakutia_LNBA* ancestry serves as a genetic „tracer dye” for early Uralic expansion. Yet, the research primarily addresses population genomics rather than definitive linguistic connections, underscoring the challenges of reconstructing ancient language movements through DNA alone. The findings open new avenues for exploring how migration, culture, and language intertwined in prehistoric Eurasia.
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