New Delhi: For the first time, the Indian government is conducting a comprehensive scientific study to determine the population history of South Asia using ancient and modern genomics. The project, titled “Reconstruction of the population history of South Asia using ancient and modern genomics,” is being carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) under the Ministry of Culture.
The study involves examining 300 ancient skeletal remains, including cranial bones and teeth, from various archaeological sites across India and Pakistan. These remains were collected during excavations at Indus Valley Civilisation sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, as well as Burzahom (Jammu & Kashmir), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Maski (Karnataka), Ropar (Punjab), and Lothal (Gujarat). The remains were excavated between 1922 and 1958 by the Archaeological Survey of India and later entrusted to AnSI, The Indian Express reported.
Collaboration to reveal ancient Indian communities’ origins
AnSI is collaborating with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, for this project, which aims to explore the origins of ancient Indian communities by analyzing DNA extracted from the skeletal remains. The research also seeks to uncover details about ancient diets, living conditions, disease prevalence, environmental adaptations and migration patterns.
The project will address long-standing debates, such as the Aryan invasion theory, which posited that fair-skinned people from Central Asia migrated to India after the Indus Valley period and significantly influenced its civilisation. However, modern archaeologists suggest the Aryans were indigenous to India and migrated from the Saraswati River region when it dried up, settling in the Indus Valley, the publication reported.
Study aims to clarify ancient migration patterns
The study, expected to conclude by December 2025, aims to provide conclusive evidence regarding ancient population movements and interactions. Researchers are already finding signs of genetic continuity without major changes in the extracted DNA samples, potentially offering a clearer understanding of India’s ancient migration history. Apart from that, AnSI has partnered with University College London for further studies to enhance knowledge of genetic and cultural evolution in human populations.
