Genetics of the peloponnesean populations and the theory of extinction of the medieval peloponnesean Greeks

• DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.18
• Publication Date: 2017-03-08T15:01:23Z
• Authors: George Stamatoyan...; Aritra Bose; Athanasios Teodos...; Fotis Tsetsos; Anna Plantinga; Nikoletta Psatha; Nikos Zogas; Evangelia Yannaki; Pierre Zalloua; Kenneth K Kidd; Brian L Browning; John Stamatoyanno...; Peristera Paschou; Petros Drineas
• Keywords: Greeks; Homeland; Gene pool; Population Genetics; Extinction (optical mineralogy)

Peloponnese has been one of the cradles Classical European civilization and an important contributor to ancient history. It also subject a controversy about ancestry its population. In theory hotly debated by scholars for over 170 years, German historian Jacob Philipp Fallmerayer proposed that medieval Peloponneseans were totally extinguished Slavic Avar invaders replaced settlers during 6th century CE. Here we use 2.5 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms investigate genetic structure Peloponnesean populations in sample 241 individuals originating from all districts peninsula examine predictions replacement Slavs. We find considerable heterogeneity exemplified genetically distinct subpopulations gene flow gradients within Peloponnese. By principal component analysis (PCA) ADMIXTURE are clearly distinguishable homeland very similar Sicilians Italians. Using novel method quantitative output ranges 0.2 14.4%. Subpopulations considered be tribes or have Near Eastern origin, no significant either. This study rejects extinction illustrates how genetics can clarify aspects history human