A landmark genomic study published in Nature Genetics has analyzed DNA from 5,000-year-old skeletal remains found in the Narmada Valley. The results indicate a surprising genetic affinity between early Indian hunter-gatherers and the ancestors of Austronesian-speaking populations in Island Southeast Asia.
This research suggests that the Indian subcontinent served as a critical genetic crossroads during the late Neolithic period, with maritime contacts occurring much earlier than previously assumed. These findings provide a new perspective on the pre-Harappan migrations and the shared heritage of the Indo-Pacific region.