Saga from the Prehistoric Graveyards: Ancient DNA Technology is rewriting the population history of the Indian subcontinent

The present population of the Indian subcontinent has been formed by the Homo sapiens who migrated to this land as a part of the Out of Africa (OOA) migration [approximately 65000 years before present (YBP)] and multiple other migrations viz., the so called ‘Aryan’ migration (3500-4000 YBP). Analysis of the Indus Valley Civilization fossils using recently developed ‘ancient DNA technology’ revealed no Pontic steppe DNA (Aryan / Yamnaya DNA) and they are found to be the genetic stock of the most people living in subcontinent today. In contrast, at least 17.5% modern North Indians (mostly Brahmins) bear the Y chromosome marker (R1a haplogroups) from the Eurasian steppe, indicating a heavily sex biased (male dominated) infiltration during Bronze age. This finding substantially established Aryan migration in the Indian subcontinent.