Researchers mapping the genetic history of the Altai-Sayan mountain corridor have identified a significant genomic transition between the Afanasievo and the subsequent Okunev cultures. The data, published in Nature Genetics, shows that while the Afanasievo were genetically linked to Western Steppe pastoralists, the Okunev culture represented a resurgence of local North Siberian hunter-gatherer ancestry.
This discovery challenges the notion of a permanent genetic replacement during the expansion of early Indo-European groups. Instead, the research suggests a period of intense cultural and genetic hybridization that shaped the complex ethnic landscape of early Central Asia, providing a more nuanced view of the 'Steppe migration' narratives.