Yinqiu Cui

The East Tianshan Mountains occupy a key corridor between Central and East Asia, but their population history remains poorly understood. Here we report genome-wide data from 135 ancient individuals from 11 archaeological sites. We identify a previously unrecognized Bronze Age admixture between populations related to Yellow River millet farmers and steppe pastoralists associated with the Chemurchek culture. In contrast, we find little genetic contribution from contemporaneous middle-to-late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists, despite their eastward expansion across the Eurasian Steppe. By the Iron Age, regional populations had become more heterogeneous, incorporating additional eastern and steppe-related sources while retaining variable contributions from Early Bronze Age groups. These results reveal sustained demographic interactions in eastern Central Asia nearly 1800 years preceding the establishment of the historic Silk Road.

Although previous studies have examined numerous ancient Mycobacterium leprae genomes, the available strains remain concentrated in western Eurasia. Ancient genomes from eastern Eurasia have remained virtually unexplored, limiting our ability to reconstruct the evolutionary history of M. leprae. In this study, we report the first two ancient M. leprae genomes recovered from this region. Phylogenetic analyses place both genomes within the ancestral Branch 0, and the observed phylogeographical patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that this lineage originated in southern East Asia. Together, these findings expand the known ancient genomic diversity of M. leprae and suggest that population movements across the Tianshan region may have contributed to its wider dissemination.

Northwestern Xinjiang is situated at the confluence of the central Eurasian Steppe, the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor and the Tianshan mountains, and is ho

Objectives: The Qijia culture (2300–1500 bce ) in northwest China's Gansu‐Qinghai region facilitated prehistoric exchanges between East Asia and the Eurasian steppe, yet its population origins and demographic dynamics remain unclear. We investigate the maternal genetic diversity, ancestry, and regional impact of the Qijia people to clarify their role in the prehistoric peopling of East Asia. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 29 complete mitochondrial genomes from Qijia‐associated individuals, comparing them with a comprehensive dataset of ancient and modern Eurasian populations using haplogroup assignment, phylogenetic analysis, and population genetic statistics. Results: The Qijia population exhibits a dual ancestry structure, deriving from millet‐farming groups from the Middle Yellow River (Shimao/Yangshao/Longshan cultures) and pastoralist populations from the Eastern Eurasian steppe. Notably, our analysis reveals little to no detectable contribution from Western Eurasia, despite archaeological evidence of cultural exchange. Key haplogroups, particularly F1g and D4j1b, link the Qijia people to modern Tibeto‐Burman speakers (e.g., Tibetans and Qiangic groups), supporting a model of southward migration via the Tibetan‐Yi Corridor. The presence of southern haplogroup F1a1a may indicate limited northward gene flow into the region. Discussion: The Qijia culture likely served as a genetic “melting pot” and a subsequent source population, illustrating demographic processes that were distinct from mere cultural diffusion. Its dual origins reflect a convergence of agricultural expansion from the Central Plains and pastoralist movements from the north. Furthermore, its profound genetic connections to Tibeto‐Burman groups highlight its enduring legacy in shaping the genetic landscape of modern populations in Southwest China.