The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy

Abstract Background The Italic Iron Age is characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups partially examined from a genomic perspective. To explore the evolution of Iron Age Italic populations and the genetic impact of Romanization, we focus on the Picenes, one of the most fascinating pre-Ro...

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Main Authors: Francesco Ravasini, Helja Kabral, Anu Solnik, Luciana de Gennaro, Francesco Montinaro, Ruoyun Hui, Chiara Delpino, Stefano Finocchi, Pierluigi Giroldini, Oscar Mei, Michael Allen Beck De Lotto, Elisabetta Cilli, Mogge Hajiesmaeil, Letizia Pistacchia, Flavia Risi, Chiara Giacometti, Christiana Lyn Scheib, Kristiina Tambets, Mait Metspalu, Fulvio Cruciani, Eugenia D’Atanasio, Beniamino Trombetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Genome Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-024-03430-4
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author Francesco Ravasini
Helja Kabral
Anu Solnik
Luciana de Gennaro
Francesco Montinaro
Ruoyun Hui
Chiara Delpino
Stefano Finocchi
Pierluigi Giroldini
Oscar Mei
Michael Allen Beck De Lotto
Elisabetta Cilli
Mogge Hajiesmaeil
Letizia Pistacchia
Flavia Risi
Chiara Giacometti
Christiana Lyn Scheib
Kristiina Tambets
Mait Metspalu
Fulvio Cruciani
Eugenia D’Atanasio
Beniamino Trombetta
author_facet Francesco Ravasini
Helja Kabral
Anu Solnik
Luciana de Gennaro
Francesco Montinaro
Ruoyun Hui
Chiara Delpino
Stefano Finocchi
Pierluigi Giroldini
Oscar Mei
Michael Allen Beck De Lotto
Elisabetta Cilli
Mogge Hajiesmaeil
Letizia Pistacchia
Flavia Risi
Chiara Giacometti
Christiana Lyn Scheib
Kristiina Tambets
Mait Metspalu
Fulvio Cruciani
Eugenia D’Atanasio
Beniamino Trombetta
author_sort Francesco Ravasini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Italic Iron Age is characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups partially examined from a genomic perspective. To explore the evolution of Iron Age Italic populations and the genetic impact of Romanization, we focus on the Picenes, one of the most fascinating pre-Roman civilizations, who flourished on the Middle Adriatic side of Central Italy between the 9th and the 3rd century BCE, until the Roman colonization. Results More than 50 samples are reported, spanning more than 1000 years of history from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity. Despite cultural diversity, our analysis reveals no major differences between the Picenes and other coeval populations, suggesting a shared genetic history of the Central Italian Iron Age ethnic groups. Nevertheless, a slight genetic differentiation between populations along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts can be observed, possibly due to different population dynamics in the two sides of Italy and/or genetic contacts across the Adriatic Sea. Additionally, we identify several individuals with ancestries deviating from their general population. Lastly, in our Late Antiquity site, we observe a drastic change in the genetic landscape of the Middle Adriatic region, indicating a relevant influx from the Near East, possibly as a consequence of Romanization. Conclusions Our findings, consistently with archeological hypotheses, suggest genetic interactions across the Adriatic Sea during the Bronze/Iron Age and a high level of individual mobility typical of cosmopolitan societies. Finally, we highlight the role of the Roman Empire in shaping genetic and phenotypic changes that greatly impact the Italian peninsula.
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spelling doaj-art-c2093ac2e5a8457eb7017902b33a58d42024-11-24T12:28:24ZengBMCGenome Biology1474-760X2024-11-0125112710.1186/s13059-024-03430-4The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central ItalyFrancesco Ravasini0Helja Kabral1Anu Solnik2Luciana de Gennaro3Francesco Montinaro4Ruoyun Hui5Chiara Delpino6Stefano Finocchi7Pierluigi Giroldini8Oscar Mei9Michael Allen Beck De Lotto10Elisabetta Cilli11Mogge Hajiesmaeil12Letizia Pistacchia13Flavia Risi14Chiara Giacometti15Christiana Lyn Scheib16Kristiina Tambets17Mait Metspalu18Fulvio Cruciani19Eugenia D’Atanasio20Beniamino Trombetta21Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeInstitute of Genomics, University of TartuInstitute of Genomics, University of TartuDepartment of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of BariInstitute of Genomics, University of TartuAlan Turing InstituteSuperintendence Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Frosinone and Latina, Ministry of Cultural HeritageSuperintendence Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Ancona, Ministry of Cultural HeritageSuperintendence Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence and the Provinces of Pistoia and Prato, Ministry of Cultural HeritageDepartment of Communication Sciences, Humanities and International Studies, University of UrbinoDepartment of Cardiac, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of PadovaDepartment of Cultural Heritage, University of BolognaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge and St John’s College, University of CambridgeInstitute of Genomics, University of TartuInstitute of Genomics, University of TartuDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeInstitute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, CNRDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of RomeAbstract Background The Italic Iron Age is characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups partially examined from a genomic perspective. To explore the evolution of Iron Age Italic populations and the genetic impact of Romanization, we focus on the Picenes, one of the most fascinating pre-Roman civilizations, who flourished on the Middle Adriatic side of Central Italy between the 9th and the 3rd century BCE, until the Roman colonization. Results More than 50 samples are reported, spanning more than 1000 years of history from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity. Despite cultural diversity, our analysis reveals no major differences between the Picenes and other coeval populations, suggesting a shared genetic history of the Central Italian Iron Age ethnic groups. Nevertheless, a slight genetic differentiation between populations along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts can be observed, possibly due to different population dynamics in the two sides of Italy and/or genetic contacts across the Adriatic Sea. Additionally, we identify several individuals with ancestries deviating from their general population. Lastly, in our Late Antiquity site, we observe a drastic change in the genetic landscape of the Middle Adriatic region, indicating a relevant influx from the Near East, possibly as a consequence of Romanization. Conclusions Our findings, consistently with archeological hypotheses, suggest genetic interactions across the Adriatic Sea during the Bronze/Iron Age and a high level of individual mobility typical of cosmopolitan societies. Finally, we highlight the role of the Roman Empire in shaping genetic and phenotypic changes that greatly impact the Italian peninsula.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-024-03430-4PicenesIron AgeAncient ItalyArchaeogenomicsAdriatic culturesAncient DNA
spellingShingle Francesco Ravasini
Helja Kabral
Anu Solnik
Luciana de Gennaro
Francesco Montinaro
Ruoyun Hui
Chiara Delpino
Stefano Finocchi
Pierluigi Giroldini
Oscar Mei
Michael Allen Beck De Lotto
Elisabetta Cilli
Mogge Hajiesmaeil
Letizia Pistacchia
Flavia Risi
Chiara Giacometti
Christiana Lyn Scheib
Kristiina Tambets
Mait Metspalu
Fulvio Cruciani
Eugenia D’Atanasio
Beniamino Trombetta
The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
Genome Biology
Picenes
Iron Age
Ancient Italy
Archaeogenomics
Adriatic cultures
Ancient DNA
title The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
title_full The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
title_fullStr The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
title_full_unstemmed The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
title_short The genomic portrait of the Picene culture provides new insights into the Italic Iron Age and the legacy of the Roman Empire in Central Italy
title_sort genomic portrait of the picene culture provides new insights into the italic iron age and the legacy of the roman empire in central italy
topic Picenes
Iron Age
Ancient Italy
Archaeogenomics
Adriatic cultures
Ancient DNA
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-024-03430-4
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