A paleogenetic study of Pazyryk people buried at Ak-Alakha-1, the Altai Mountains

The study outlines the results of a molecular-genetic analysis of two males from a Pazyryk burial at Ak-Alakha-1, Ukok Plateau, the Altai Mountains, relating to mitochondrial DNA, the polymorphic part of amelogenin gene, autosomal STR-loci and STR-loci of Y-chromosome. Major lineages of both mtDNA and Y-chromosome are identical, indicating kinship. However, more detailed results exclude first degree (father-son) kinship in favor of a more distant relationship. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic implications of the findings are discussed. The study demonstrates the capacities of modern paleogenetic techniques and the urgent necessity to include them in archaeological reconstructions.