A groundbreaking genomic study published in Nature Genetics has analyzed the DNA of over 100 individuals from the Deccan plateau dating back to 1,000 BCE. The research identifies a significant genetic shift occurring during the late Megalithic period, providing the first biological evidence of how social endogamy began to crystallize in ancient Indian society.
Lead researchers suggest that this period marked a transition where ancestral groups began to limit intermarriage, coinciding with the early Vedic influence in the region. The study also highlights a unique genetic signature that connects these ancient inhabitants to modern-day communities in Maharashtra and Karnataka, suggesting a long-term continuity of lineage despite external migrations.