Ancient DNA lifts the curtain on a mysterious ancient empire, right next to Romania

Ancient DNA lifts the curtain on a mysterious ancient empire, right next to Romania. From a piece of bone, scientists can extract amazing information about the past.

Analysis of DNA recovered from human remains usually reveals the traits of the ancestors, be it a mummified, frozen man, a Chinese emperor or a legendary composer.

Ancient DNA lifts the curtain on a mysterious ancient empire

As techniques improve, researchers are using this invaluable tool to investigate human remains from multiple burial sites, resulting in large data sets that help them better understand the dynamics of entire communities.

Known primarily from the accounts of their Byzantine opponents, the Avars were formidable mounted warriors who arrived in Central and Eastern Europe in the 6th century seemingly out of nowhere, according to CNN.

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The origins of the empire and its leaders remained unclear until a landmark study in April 2022 found that they came from the Mongolian steppe.

Photo: Profimedia Images

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Now, a new analysis of the unearthed remains of 424 individuals from cemeteries in Hungary has provided details about the family and social life of the Avars and how the newcomers interacted with the population of their adopted homeland.

The findings revealed a tightly knit population with marriage practices not common today. Today, avarii, also known as “maharuli” (Avar: магӀарулал, maⱨarulal, “mountaineers”), are a ethnic group from the North-Eastern Caucasus. Avars are the largest of several ethnic groups living in the Russian autonomous republic of Dagestan.