A PALEOGENETIC STUDY OF PAZYRYK PEOPLE BURIED AT AK-ALAKHA-1, THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS*

Abstract

The study outlines the results of a molecular-genetic analysis of two males from a Pazyryk burial at Ak-Alakha-1, Ukok Plateau, the Altai Mountains, relating to mitochondrial DNA, the polymorphic part of the amelogenin gene, autosomal STR-loci, and STR-loci of the Y-chromosome. Major lineages of both mtDNA and the Y-chromosome are identical, indicating kinship. However, more detailed results exclude first-degree (father–son) kinship in favor of a more distant relationship. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic implications of the findings are discussed. The study demonstrates the capacities of modern paleogenetic methods and the urgent necessity of including them in archaeological reconstructions.