Reconstruction of the genetic history of Western Siberian populations: paleogenetic analysis of the medieval anthropological evidence

This article presents a large-scale paleogenetic study ofpopulations of the Middle Ages and Modern Age from the southern part of Western Siberia (forest-steppe zone and adjacent territories), which started in 2023. The study follows the diachronic approach for analyzing genetic composition of populations which replaced each other in the region, and reconstructing population dynamics over time. The advantages of the diachronic approach are discussed. The selection of the population sample of the Middle Ages and Modern Age resulted from further development of the diachronic model which the authors already applied to the populations of the Neolithic-Early Iron Age in Western Siberia. The reasons for current insufficient research of Medieval populations using paleogenetic methods are discussed. Geographical and chronological framework of the model as well as circle of sites which were included into the sample are specified. Advantages and disadvantages associated with ethnic attribution of Medieval evidence in addition to cultural attribution of other chronological periods using archaeological methods are described. The article addresses the issue of interaction between geneticists, archaeologists, and anthropologists at different stages of research, and specific aspects of acquiring data on the structure of the mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome gene pool of the modern populations of Western Siberia for analyzing and interpreting paleogenetic data. The preliminary results at the first stage of research included description of the model and possible steps of its further elaboration, initial assessment of the preservation state of DNA in the series included into the model, andfirst data on the structure of the mitochondrial DNA gene pool. A possible way to develop the model is to assemble a gallery ofportraits for the representatives of different groups of Medieval population of the region, which would take into account objective paleogenetic data both at the stage of selecting individuals for the gallery (in the population genetic context), and at the stage of establishing the phenotypic features of individuals, such as pigmentation.