Modeling Overview#
All ancestry models were generated using qpAdm and replicated with Global25 and show strong overall model fit, indicating that the inferred ancestry proportions provide a reliable representation of population structure within the chosen framework.
qpAdm modeling shows that modern Anatolian Turks carry ancestry from multiple sources spanning several millennia. By comparing modern genomes against ancient populations, we can see how each period contributed to the overall genetic profile. Models were run using the v64 dataset from the Harvard Reich Lab
Neolithic farmer & Yamnaya Ancestry#
The earliest major component in modern Anatolian Turks derives from Neolithic Anatolian farmers. This ancestry reflects the spread of early agricultural populations across Anatolia and represents the core local genetic foundation. Despite later admixture events, this Neolithic layer remains a significant part of the modern gene pool, illustrating the long-term presence of these early farming communities in the region.
Iron Age & Medieval Ancestry#
Subsequent historical periods added additional layers of ancestry:
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Local and East Mediterranean populations such as the Hittites, Phrygians, Phoenicians, and many more, which mostly spread during the Roman era and the Byzantine period, contributed to the genetic makeup of Anatolia, reflecting the region's role as a crossroads of civilizations and its long history of cultural and genetic exchange.
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Ancient Greek ancestry, which was present in Anatolia since the Bronze Age and became more widespread during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, contributed to the genetic landscape of modern Anatolian Turks. This reflects the historical interactions between Greek city-states and Anatolian populations, as well as the spread of Greek culture and people across the region.
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Slavic ancestry, which entered Anatolia during the medieval period through migrations and interactions with Slavic populations in the Balkans, also contributed to the genetic diversity of modern Anatolian Turks. This admixture reflects the historical movements of Slavic peoples into the region and their interactions with existing populations, further shaping the genetic landscape of modern Anatolian Turks.
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Turkic migrations from Central Asia during the medieval period introduced additional genetic diversity, contributing to the modern Turkish gene pool. This admixture reflects the historical movements of Turkic peoples into Anatolia and their interactions with existing populations, further shaping the genetic landscape of modern Anatolian Turks.
Global25 models provide very similiar results to qpadm modeling, with the same major ancestry components and similar proportions. This consistency across different modeling approaches strengthens the confidence in the inferred ancestry proportions and the overall conclusions about the genetic makeup of modern Anatolian Turks.
Modern Anatolian Turks are a genetically complex population with ancestry from multiple sources spanning several millennia. The core local ancestry derives from Neolithic Anatolian farmers, while subsequent historical periods added layers of ancestry from local and East Mediterranean populations, ancient Greeks, Slavic migrations, and Turkic migrations. This intricate genetic tapestry reflects the rich history of Anatolia as a crossroads of civilizations and the dynamic interactions between diverse populations over time.
