Recent analysis of ancient DNA from northwestern Hungary has shed new light on the population dynamics following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. An international team sequenced DNA from 314 individuals who lived in the Little Hungarian Plain between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD, comparing remains from Roman rule with those from the subsequent period.
The findings, published in the journal Science, reveal a significant shift in ancestry. Graves from the Roman era predominantly contained individuals with southern European roots, alongside some from Asia and Africa, indicating the region's integration into the vast Roman network. However, burials from the post-Roman period show a marked increase in northern European ancestry, suggesting a substantial influx of newcomers.
Researchers propose that this genetic shift primarily reflects the expansion of the Lombards, a Germanic people, from north of the Danube River into former Roman territories. This migration appears to have occurred over several years, involving individuals and families settling and intermingling with the existing population, rather than a single, overwhelming invasion.
This genetic evidence challenges the long-held historical narrative of isolated groups of 'barbarians' seizing control as Roman authority waned. Historians have often relied on limited written records, frequently from the perspective of the Romans themselves, making it difficult to fully understand the era. The integration of ancient DNA with archaeological findings from seven cemeteries provides a more nuanced picture.
The study indicates that while newcomers eventually became the dominant political force, the original inhabitants continued to play a role in shaping new communities. The analysis also revealed structured societies rather than scattered rural settlements. Clusters of close biological relatives within some graves suggest that influential families emerged, holding power and status and forming networks that connected multiple settlements.
Patrick Geary, a co-leader of the HistoGenes project that conducted the research, stated that the findings demonstrate population movements were more complex than previously understood. The project uncovered gradual, localized movements alongside larger population shifts, and highlighted instances where material culture and genetic ancestry did not necessarily align, illustrating the diverse ways newcomers integrated into existing populations.