An international team of scientists has confirmed a genetic link between the Huns, led by Attila, and the Xiongnu empire through ancient DNA analysis. While recognizing the presence of elite descendants among the Huns, the majority were found to be of European descent. The findings were published in the journal PNAS on February 24.
Recent genomic research has established a genetic connection between the Huns, led by Attila, and the Xiongnu empire, which opposed Han China. Despite previous speculation regarding their origins, particularly a potential link to the Xiongnu due to linguistic similarities, scientific evidence was lacking. The new study presents DNA analysis that identifies direct descendants of the Xiongnu elite within the Hunnic population, although it also highlights that the majority of Huns were predominantly of European descent.
The research team, consisting of international scientists, published their findings in the journal PNAS, asserting that “Long-shared genomic tracts provide compelling evidence of genetic lineages directly connecting some individuals of the highest Xiongnu-period elite with … Carpathian basin individuals, showing that some European Huns descended from them.” Furthermore, the study indicated that “We find no evidence for the presence of a large eastern/steppe descent community among the Hun- and post-Hun-period Carpathian basin.”
This groundbreaking evidence not only contributes to the understanding of the Huns’ lineage but also reinforces the importance of genomic analysis in unraveling historical populations. The work reflects the ongoing efforts of scientists to clarify the ambiguous origins of various ancient peoples and their migrations through DNA evidence.
The genetic analysis recently undertaken by an international team has successfully established a direct lineage between the Huns and the Xiongnu empire, dispelling some long-held uncertainties regarding their origins. While confirming connections to the Xiongnu elite, the majority of the Hunnic population appears to have been of European ancestry. This research underscores the value of DNA in historical studies and the understanding of ancient populations.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
