Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age

Nick Patterson, Michael Isakov, Thomas Booth, Lindsey Büster, Claire-Elise Fischer, Iñigo Olalde, Harald Ringbauer, Ali Akbari, Olivia Cheronet, Madeleine Bleasdale, Nicole Adamski, Eveline Altena, Rebecca Bernardos, Selina Brace, Nasreen Broomandkhoshbacht, Kimberly Callan, Francesca Candilio, Brendan Culleton, Elizabeth Curtis, Lea Demetz, Kellie Sara Duffett Carlson, Ceiridwen J. Edwards, Daniel M. Fernandes, M. George B. Foody, Suzanne Freilich, Helen Goodchild, Aisling Kearns, Ann Marie Lawson, Iosif Lazaridis, Matthew Mah, Swapan Mallick, Kirsten Mandl, Adam Micco, Megan Michel, Guillermo Bravo Morante, Jonas Oppenheimer, Kadir Toykan Özdoğan, Lijun Qiu, Constanze Schattke, Kristin Stewardson, J. Noah Workman, Fatma Zalzala, Zhao Zhang, Bibiana Agustí, Tim Allen, Katalin Almássy, Luc Amkreutz, Abigail Ash, Christèle Baillif-Ducros, Alistair Barclay, László Bartosiewicz, Katherine Baxter, Zsolt Bernert, Jan Blažek, Mario Bodružić, Philippe Boissinot, Clive Bonsall, Pippa Bradley, Marcus Brittain, Alison Brookes, Fraser Brown, Lisa Brown, Richard Brunning, Chelsea Budd, Josip Burmaz, Sylvain Canet, Silvia Carnicero-Cáceres, Morana Čaušević-Bully, Andrew Chamberlain, Sébastien Chauvin, Sharon Clough, Natalija Čondić, Alfredo Coppa, Oliver Craig, Matija Črešnar, Vicki Cummings, Szabolcs Czifra, Alžběta Danielisová, Robin Daniels, Alex Davies, Philip Jersey, Jody Deacon, Csilla Deminger, Peter W. Ditchfield, Marko Dizdar, Miroslav Dobeš, Miluše Dobisíková, László Domboróczki, Gail Drinkall, Ana Đukić, Michal Ernée, Christopher Evans, Jane Evans, Manuel Fernández-Götz, Slavica Filipović, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Harry Fokkens, Chris Fowler, Allison Fox, Zsolt Gallina, Michelle Gamble, Manuel R. González Morales, Borja González-Rabanal, Adrian Green, Katalin Gyenesei, Diederick Habermehl, Tamás Hajdu, Derek Hamilton, James Harris, Chris Hayden, Joep Hendriks, Bénédicte Hernu, Gill Hey, Milan Horňák, Gábor Ilon, Eszter Istvánovits, Andy M. Jones, Martina Blečić Kavur, Kevin Kazek, Robert A. Kenyon, Amal Khreisheh, Viktória Kiss, Jos Kleijne, Mark Knight, Lisette M. Kootker, Péter F. Kovács, Anita Kozubová, Gabriella Kulcsár, Valéria Kulcsár, Christophe Pennec, Michael Legge, Matt Leivers, Louise Loe, Olalla López-Costas, Tom Lord, Dženi Los, James Lyall, Ana B. Marín-Arroyo, Philip Mason, Damir Matošević, Andy Maxted, Lauren McIntyre, Jacqueline McKinley, Kathleen McSweeney, Bernard Meijlink, Balázs G. Mende, Marko Menđušić, Milan Metlička, Sophie Meyer, Kristina Mihovilić, Lidija Milasinovic, Steve Minnitt, Joanna Moore, Geoff Morley, Graham Mullan, Margaréta Musilová, Benjamin Neil, Rebecca Nicholls, Mario Novak, Maria Pala, Martin Papworth, Cécile Paresys, Ricky Patten, Domagoj Perkić, Krisztina Pesti, Alba Petit, Katarína Petriščáková, Coline Pichon, Catriona Pickard, Zoltán Pilling, T. Douglas Price, Siniša Radović, Rebecca Redfern, Branislav Resutík, Daniel T. Rhodes, Martin B. Richards, Amy Roberts, Jean Roefstra, Pavel Sankot, Alena Šefčáková, Alison Sheridan, Sabine Skae, Miroslava Šmolíková, Krisztina Somogyi, Ágnes Somogyvári, Mark Stephens, Géza Szabó, Anna Szécsényi-Nagy, Tamás Szeniczey, Jonathan Tabor, Károly Tankó, Clenis Tavarez Maria, Rachel Terry, Biba Teržan, Maria Teschler-Nicola, Jesús F. Torres-Martínez, Julien Trapp, Ross Turle, Ferenc Ujvári, Menno Heiden, Petr Veleminsky, Barbara Veselka, Zdeněk Vytlačil, Clive Waddington, Paula Ware, Paul Wilkinson, Linda Wilson, Rob Wiseman, Eilidh Young, Joško Zaninović, Andrej Žitňan, Carles Lalueza-Fox, Peter Knijff, Ian Barnes, Peter Halkon, Mark G. Thomas, Douglas J. Kennett, Barry Cunliffe, Malcolm Lillie, Nadin Rohland, Ron Pinhasi (), Ian Armit () and David Reich ()
Additional contact information
Nick Patterson: Harvard University
Michael Isakov: Harvard College
Thomas Booth: Natural History Museum
Lindsey Büster: University of York
Claire-Elise Fischer: University of York
Iñigo Olalde: Harvard Medical School
Harald Ringbauer: Harvard University
Ali Akbari: Harvard University
Olivia Cheronet: University of Vienna
Madeleine Bleasdale: University of York
Nicole Adamski: Harvard Medical School
Eveline Altena: Leiden University Medical Center
Rebecca Bernardos: Harvard Medical School
Selina Brace: Natural History Museum
Nasreen Broomandkhoshbacht: Harvard Medical School
Kimberly Callan: Harvard Medical School
Francesca Candilio: Museo delle Civiltà
Brendan Culleton: Pennsylvania State University
Elizabeth Curtis: Harvard Medical School
Lea Demetz: University of Vienna
Kellie Sara Duffett Carlson: University of Vienna
Ceiridwen J. Edwards: University of Huddersfield
Daniel M. Fernandes: University of Vienna
M. George B. Foody: University of Coimbra
Suzanne Freilich: University of Vienna
Helen Goodchild: University of York
Aisling Kearns: Harvard Medical School
Ann Marie Lawson: Harvard Medical School
Iosif Lazaridis: Harvard University
Matthew Mah: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Swapan Mallick: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Kirsten Mandl: University of Vienna
Adam Micco: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Megan Michel: Harvard Medical School
Guillermo Bravo Morante: University of Vienna
Jonas Oppenheimer: Harvard Medical School
Kadir Toykan Özdoğan: University of Vienna
Lijun Qiu: Harvard Medical School
Constanze Schattke: University of Vienna
Kristin Stewardson: Harvard Medical School
J. Noah Workman: Harvard Medical School
Fatma Zalzala: Harvard Medical School
Zhao Zhang: Harvard Medical School
Bibiana Agustí: INSITU S.C.P. Centelles
Tim Allen: Oxford Archaeology
Katalin Almássy: Městské Muzeum v Čelákovicích
Luc Amkreutz: National Museum of Antiquities
Abigail Ash: Independent Researcher, Soham
Christèle Baillif-Ducros: Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP)
Alistair Barclay: Cotswold Archaeology
László Bartosiewicz: Stockholm University
Katherine Baxter: Leeds Discovery Centre
Zsolt Bernert: Hungarian Natural History Museum
Jan Blažek: Institute of Preservation of Archaeological Heritage of Northwest Bohemia
Mario Bodružić: Stratum Ltd
Philippe Boissinot: TRACES, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
Clive Bonsall: University of Edinburgh
Pippa Bradley: Cotswold Archaeology
Marcus Brittain: University of Cambridge
Alison Brookes: Corinium Museum
Fraser Brown: Oxford Archaeology
Lisa Brown: Wiltshire Museum
Richard Brunning: South West Heritage Trust, Somerset Heritage Centre
Chelsea Budd: Umeå University
Josip Burmaz: Kaducej Ltd
Sylvain Canet: Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP)
Silvia Carnicero-Cáceres: Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses de Cantabria
Morana Čaušević-Bully: Université de Franche Comté/UMR Chrono-Environnement
Andrew Chamberlain: University of Manchester
Sébastien Chauvin: Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP)
Sharon Clough: Cotswold Archaeology
Natalija Čondić: Archaeological Museum Zadar
Alfredo Coppa: Harvard Medical School
Oliver Craig: University of York
Matija Črešnar: Faculty of Arts
Vicki Cummings: University of Central Lancashire
Szabolcs Czifra: Hungarian National Museum
Alžběta Danielisová: Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
Robin Daniels: Tees Archaeology
Alex Davies: Oxford Archaeology
Philip Jersey: Guernsey Museums & Galleries
Jody Deacon: Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales
Csilla Deminger: Kuny Domokos Museum
Peter W. Ditchfield: University of Oxford
Marko Dizdar: Institute of Archaeology
Miroslav Dobeš: Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
Miluše Dobisíková: The National Museum, Prague
László Domboróczki: Dobó István Castle Museum
Gail Drinkall: The Orkney Museum
Ana Đukić: Archaeological Museum in Zagreb
Michal Ernée: Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
Christopher Evans: University of Cambridge
Jane Evans: Keyworth Nottingham
Manuel Fernández-Götz: University of Edinburgh
Slavica Filipović: Archaeological Museum Osijek
Andrew Fitzpatrick: University of Leicester
Harry Fokkens: Leiden University
Chris Fowler: Newcastle University
Allison Fox: Manx National Heritage, Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin, Manx Museum
Zsolt Gallina: Ásatárs Ltd
Michelle Gamble: Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice (HARP)
Manuel R. González Morales: Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantabria, Universidad de Cantabria
Borja González-Rabanal: Universidad de Cantabria
Adrian Green: The Salisbury Museum
Katalin Gyenesei: Eötvös Loránd University
Diederick Habermehl: VU University
Tamás Hajdu: Hungarian Natural History Museum
Derek Hamilton: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC)
James Harris: Corinium Museum
Chris Hayden: Oxford Archaeology
Joep Hendriks: Gemeente Nijmegen
Bénédicte Hernu: Musée Saint-Remi, Ville de Reims
Gill Hey: Oxford Archaeology
Milan Horňák: Faculty of Arts
Gábor Ilon: Independent Researcher
Eszter Istvánovits: Jósa András Museum
Andy M. Jones: Cornwall Archaeology Unit
Martina Blečić Kavur: University of Primorska
Kevin Kazek: Musée de La Cour d’Or
Robert A. Kenyon: East Dorset Antiquarian Society (EDAS)
Amal Khreisheh: South West Heritage Trust, Somerset Heritage Centre
Viktória Kiss: Eötvös Loránd Research Network
Jos Kleijne: Groningen University
Mark Knight: University of Cambridge
Lisette M. Kootker: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Péter F. Kovács: Damjanich János Museum
Anita Kozubová: Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Gabriella Kulcsár: Eötvös Loránd Research Network
Valéria Kulcsár: University of Szeged, Faculty of Arts, Department of Archaeology
Christophe Pennec: Musee d’Histoire et d’Archeologie
Michael Legge: Cardiff University
Matt Leivers: Wessex Archaeology
Louise Loe: Oxford Archaeology
Olalla López-Costas: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Tom Lord: Lower Winskill Farm
Dženi Los: Kaducej Ltd
James Lyall: Geophiz.biz
Ana B. Marín-Arroyo: Universidad de Cantabria
Philip Mason: Centre for Preventive Archaeology
Damir Matošević: Zavičajni Muzej Grada Rovinja
Andy Maxted: Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust
Lauren McIntyre: Oxford Archaeology
Jacqueline McKinley: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Kathleen McSweeney: University of Edinburgh
Bernard Meijlink: Walcherse Archeologische Dienst
Balázs G. Mende: Eötvös Loránd Research Network
Marko Menđušić: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia
Milan Metlička: Museum of West Bohemia, Department of Prehistory
Sophie Meyer: Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Kristina Mihovilić: Archaeological Museum of Istria
Lidija Milasinovic: National Museum of Kikinda
Steve Minnitt: South West Heritage Trust, Somerset Heritage Centre
Joanna Moore: Durham University
Geoff Morley: Courtwood House
Graham Mullan: University of Bristol Spelaeological Society
Margaréta Musilová: Municipal Monument Preservation Institute Bratislava
Benjamin Neil: University of Cambridge
Rebecca Nicholls: University of Bradford
Mario Novak: Institute for Anthropological Research
Maria Pala: University of Coimbra
Martin Papworth: Dorset & Wiltshire
Cécile Paresys: Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP)
Ricky Patten: University of Cambridge
Domagoj Perkić: Archaeological Museum, Dubrovnik Museums
Krisztina Pesti: Rómer Flóris Museum of Art and History
Alba Petit: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra
Katarína Petriščáková: The City of Prague Museum
Coline Pichon: Musée Le Vergeur
Catriona Pickard: University of Edinburgh
Zoltán Pilling: Independent researcher
T. Douglas Price: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Siniša Radović: Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Rebecca Redfern: Museum of London
Branislav Resutík: Municipal Monument Preservation Institute Bratislava
Daniel T. Rhodes: Hermiston Quay
Martin B. Richards: University of Coimbra
Amy Roberts: The Novium Museum
Jean Roefstra: Provinciaal Archeologisch Depot Noord-Holland
Pavel Sankot: The National Museum, Prague
Alena Šefčáková: Slovak National Museum—Natural History Museum
Alison Sheridan: National Museums Scotland
Sabine Skae: The Dock Museum
Miroslava Šmolíková: The City of Prague Museum
Krisztina Somogyi: Rippl-Rónai Museum
Ágnes Somogyvári: Katona József Museum Hungary
Mark Stephens: MAP Archaeological Practice
Géza Szabó: Wosinsky Mór Museum
Anna Szécsényi-Nagy: Eötvös Loránd Research Network
Tamás Szeniczey: Hungarian Natural History Museum
Jonathan Tabor: University of Cambridge
Károly Tankó: Eötvös Loránd University
Clenis Tavarez Maria: Museo del Hombre Dominicano
Rachel Terry: Craven Museum and Gallery
Biba Teržan: Faculty of Arts
Maria Teschler-Nicola: University of Vienna
Jesús F. Torres-Martínez: Instituto Monte Bernorio de Estudios de la Antigüedad del Cantábrico (IMBEAC), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Departamento de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología
Julien Trapp: Musée de La Cour d’Or
Ross Turle: Hampshire Cultural Trust
Ferenc Ujvári: Rómer Flóris Museum of Art and History
Menno Heiden: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
Petr Veleminsky: The National Museum, Prague
Barbara Veselka: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Zdeněk Vytlačil: The National Museum, Prague
Clive Waddington: Archaeological Research Services
Paula Ware: MAP Archaeological Practice
Paul Wilkinson: Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company
Linda Wilson: University of Bristol Spelaeological Society
Rob Wiseman: University of Cambridge
Eilidh Young: Keswick Museum
Joško Zaninović: Krka National Park
Andrej Žitňan: AA AVALA s.r.o.
Carles Lalueza-Fox: CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Peter Knijff: Leiden University Medical Center
Ian Barnes: Natural History Museum
Peter Halkon: University of Hull
Mark G. Thomas: University College London
Douglas J. Kennett: University of California
Barry Cunliffe: University of Oxford
Malcolm Lillie: Umeå University
Nadin Rohland: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Ron Pinhasi: University of Vienna
Ian Armit: University of York
David Reich: Harvard University

Nature, 2022, vol. 601, issue 7894, 588-594

Abstract: Abstract Present-day people from England and Wales have more ancestry derived from early European farmers (EEF) than did people of the Early Bronze Age1. To understand this, here we generated genome-wide data from 793 individuals, increasing data from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age in Britain by 12-fold, and western and central Europe by 3.5-fold. Between 1000 and 875 bc, EEF ancestry increased in southern Britain (England and Wales) but not northern Britain (Scotland) due to incorporation of migrants who arrived at this time and over previous centuries, and who were genetically most similar to ancient individuals from France. These migrants contributed about half the ancestry of people of England and Wales from the Iron Age, thereby creating a plausible vector for the spread of early Celtic languages into Britain. These patterns are part of a broader trend of EEF ancestry becoming more similar across central and western Europe in the Middle to the Late Bronze Age, coincident with archaeological evidence of intensified cultural exchange2–6. There was comparatively less gene flow from continental Europe during the Iron Age, and the independent genetic trajectory in Britain is also reflected in the rise of the allele conferring lactase persistence to approximately 50% by this time compared to approximately 7% in central Europe where it rose rapidly in frequency only a millennium later. This suggests that dairy products were used in qualitatively different ways in Britain and in central Europe over this period.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04287-4

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