A new paleogenomic study of skeletal remains from megalithic burials in the Nilgiri Hills has provided surprising insights into ancient migrations. The DNA analysis suggests that the people of this region during the Iron Age possessed genetic markers linked to both local hunter-gatherers and coastal trading populations from the Persian Gulf.
These findings suggest that the spices and minerals of the Nilgiris were part of a vast maritime exchange network much earlier than previously believed. The study also confirms a high degree of genetic continuity among the modern tribal groups residing in these mountains today.