DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53060#0211
210
6 Preliminary analyses of DNA in skeletal material from the Harbor Necropolis
6.5 PRELIMINARY MTDNA RESULTS AND GENETIC CONSTITUTION OF THE
HARBOR NECROPOLIS
The presented results are a combination of conventional sequencing and NGS (tab. 93). No
sample yielded DNA information in all five DNA-stretches, many of the samples gave DNA
sequences in only three or four of the five fragments. Statistical evaluation of the authenticity
of the sequences has not been performed, the observed mutations remain to be confirmed, and
missing sequence information must be added before confirming haplogroup assignments. The
suggested haplogroup assignments for 15 samples are presented as pie charts in figure 84 d. The
high number of haplotypes and diversity of haplogroups indicate a broad and complex origin
of this population of Roman Ephesos. The presence of the probable haplogroups H, U, N, J/T
and I, all of western Eurasian origin, is in accordance with a European profile. The structure of
the Roman population, interpreted from the Harbor Necropolis is putatively more complex than
the later Ottoman population, presenting eight haplogroups among the 15 skeletons, compared
to the Ottoman population described through the Türbe in the Artemision-study, presenting five
haplogroups in 13 skeletons (fig. 84 c). However, both studies are based on a low number of
skeletons and exposed to stochastical effects.
Table 93 Preliminary haplogroups assignments of 15 individuals representing four graves of the Harbor Necropolis
Sample no.
Grave
Individual
Bone/Tooth
Haplogroup
Radiocarbon
dating
276
1
VIII
M2
U
267
1
XV
M2
H
61
2
XVII
Femur
N
62
2
XVIII
Femur
D
321 ±50 A.D.
41
3
II
Femur
U
54
3
IX
Femur
M/G/I
57
3
V
Femur
H
55
3
VIII
Femur
J/T
43
3
XI
Femur
H
38
3
XIV
Femur
J/T
47
3
XVII
Femur
J/T
1
4
I
Femur
D
179 ±34 A.D.
6
4
II
Femur
L/M
171 ±35 A.D.
58
4
IV
Femur
I
14
4
VI
Femur
J/T
Three samples had mutations indicative of haplogroups D/M (2) and M/L2 (1). The mutations
of these samples are not conclusive for haplogroup assignment, and further analyses have to be
performed to confirm the haplogroup. These haplogroups are uncommon in western Eurasia.
Haplogroup M is one of the two main ancestral lineages leaving Africa in an eastward direction
(fig. 83). Haplogroup D derived from haplogroup M and has an eastern Eurasian origin. The
presence of three samples representing an eastern Eurasian or African origin could further be
interpreted to reflect the throbbing life of this harbor city, attracting people form near and distant.
It should be emphasized that it is not necessarily the examined individuals themselves that have
an exotic origin, but rather their maternal ancestors.
Two samples had a sequence that could correspond to the eastern Eurasian haplogroup D or
M. A variant of this haplogroup, D4, was found in Ottoman Ephesos (Bjornstad 2015). D4 is
the most frequently occurring haplotype of northeast Asia, and spread all over Southeast Asia,
Central Asia and the Americas. The frequency of D in Turkmen is around 30 % (Comas et al.
2004). Haplogroup D is found in the modern Turkish population at around 7 % (Schönberg et al.
6 Preliminary analyses of DNA in skeletal material from the Harbor Necropolis
6.5 PRELIMINARY MTDNA RESULTS AND GENETIC CONSTITUTION OF THE
HARBOR NECROPOLIS
The presented results are a combination of conventional sequencing and NGS (tab. 93). No
sample yielded DNA information in all five DNA-stretches, many of the samples gave DNA
sequences in only three or four of the five fragments. Statistical evaluation of the authenticity
of the sequences has not been performed, the observed mutations remain to be confirmed, and
missing sequence information must be added before confirming haplogroup assignments. The
suggested haplogroup assignments for 15 samples are presented as pie charts in figure 84 d. The
high number of haplotypes and diversity of haplogroups indicate a broad and complex origin
of this population of Roman Ephesos. The presence of the probable haplogroups H, U, N, J/T
and I, all of western Eurasian origin, is in accordance with a European profile. The structure of
the Roman population, interpreted from the Harbor Necropolis is putatively more complex than
the later Ottoman population, presenting eight haplogroups among the 15 skeletons, compared
to the Ottoman population described through the Türbe in the Artemision-study, presenting five
haplogroups in 13 skeletons (fig. 84 c). However, both studies are based on a low number of
skeletons and exposed to stochastical effects.
Table 93 Preliminary haplogroups assignments of 15 individuals representing four graves of the Harbor Necropolis
Sample no.
Grave
Individual
Bone/Tooth
Haplogroup
Radiocarbon
dating
276
1
VIII
M2
U
267
1
XV
M2
H
61
2
XVII
Femur
N
62
2
XVIII
Femur
D
321 ±50 A.D.
41
3
II
Femur
U
54
3
IX
Femur
M/G/I
57
3
V
Femur
H
55
3
VIII
Femur
J/T
43
3
XI
Femur
H
38
3
XIV
Femur
J/T
47
3
XVII
Femur
J/T
1
4
I
Femur
D
179 ±34 A.D.
6
4
II
Femur
L/M
171 ±35 A.D.
58
4
IV
Femur
I
14
4
VI
Femur
J/T
Three samples had mutations indicative of haplogroups D/M (2) and M/L2 (1). The mutations
of these samples are not conclusive for haplogroup assignment, and further analyses have to be
performed to confirm the haplogroup. These haplogroups are uncommon in western Eurasia.
Haplogroup M is one of the two main ancestral lineages leaving Africa in an eastward direction
(fig. 83). Haplogroup D derived from haplogroup M and has an eastern Eurasian origin. The
presence of three samples representing an eastern Eurasian or African origin could further be
interpreted to reflect the throbbing life of this harbor city, attracting people form near and distant.
It should be emphasized that it is not necessarily the examined individuals themselves that have
an exotic origin, but rather their maternal ancestors.
Two samples had a sequence that could correspond to the eastern Eurasian haplogroup D or
M. A variant of this haplogroup, D4, was found in Ottoman Ephesos (Bjornstad 2015). D4 is
the most frequently occurring haplotype of northeast Asia, and spread all over Southeast Asia,
Central Asia and the Americas. The frequency of D in Turkmen is around 30 % (Comas et al.
2004). Haplogroup D is found in the modern Turkish population at around 7 % (Schönberg et al.
