Human population history at the crossroads of East and Southeast Asia since 11,000 years ago

Past human genetic diversity and migration between southern China and Southeast Asia have not been well characterized, in part due to poor preservation of ancient DNA in hot and humid regions. We sequenced 31 ancient genomes from southern China (Guangxi and Fujian), including two similar to 12,000- to 10,000-year-old individuals representing the oldest humans sequenced from southern China. We discovered a deeply diverged East Asian ancestry in the Guangxi region that persisted until at least 6,000 years ago. We found that similar to 9,000-to 6,000-year-old Guangxi populations were a mixture of local ancestry, southern ancestry previously sampled in Fujian, and deep Asian ancestry related to Southeast Asian Hoabinhian hunter-gatherers, showing broad admixture in the region predating the appearance of farming. Historical Guangxi populations dating to similar to 1,500 to 500 years ago are closely related to Tai-Kadai and Hmong-Mien speakers. Our results show heavy interactions among three distinct ancestries at the crossroads of East and Southeast Asia.

Automated summary

The study reveals the presence of ancient East Asian ancestry in southern China's Guangxi region, as well as a history of admixture with deep Asian ancestry related to Southeast Asia and local ancestry. Historical populations in Guangxi dating back to 1,500 to 500 years ago are closely related to Tai-Kadai and Hmong-Mien speakers, indicating interactions between East and Southeast Asia.