Genetics of the Yamnaya Culture (2024 Study)

The Yamnaya culture, flourishing between 3300 and 2600 BCE on the Pontic-Caspian steppe, is considered one of the most influential prehistoric cultures in shaping the genetic and cultural landscape of Europe and Central Asia. Originating from the vast steppes of modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia, the Yamnaya were pastoralists who lived a nomadic lifestyle centered around horse breeding, cattle herding, and, in some western groups, agriculture. Their economy relied heavily on domesticated animals, and they are often credited with the widespread use of the wheel and the domestication of horses, which significantly enhanced their mobility and ability to expand across vast territories. Genetically, the Yamnaya people were a significant admixture of Eastern Hunter-Gatherers (EHGs) and Caucasus Hunter-Gatherers (CHGs), creating a unique genetic profile that they would spread across Europe and into Central Asia through their extensive migrations. These migrations are believed to have played a pivotal role in the spread of Indo-European languages. The Yamnaya were predominantly associated with the paternal haplogroup R1b-M269, which is now common in Western Europe, and maternal haplogroups like U5 and H, which reflect their mixed EHG and CHG ancestry. The Yamnaya culture’s expansion laid the groundwork for subsequent cultures, such as the Corded Ware and Bell Beaker cultures, and their genetic legacy is still evident in modern European populations. Their influence on the genetic, linguistic, and cultural development of Europe underscores the Yamnaya’s significance in prehistoric history. Study data can be found here: Trait Predictor executable can be found here: trait predictor $ reports can be found here: