Vikings and Migrants: Unravelling Scandinavia's Genetic Mosaic in the Viking Era

Anders Götherström; Ricardo Rodríguez Varela

doi:10.25250/thescbr.brk763

Authors

Anders Götherström Centre for Palaeogenetics https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8579-1304
Ricardo Rodríguez Varela Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4173-8648

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25250/thescbr.brk763

Keywords:

Vikings, ancient DNA, Migration, Archaeology

Abstract

We analysed ancient Scandinavian genomes over 2,000 years, revealing Viking-era influx from southern Europe, British-Irish Isles, and the east Baltic. Genetic diversity increased during that time, but later Scandinavians have less non-local ancestry. Uralic ancestry found 1,000 years ago still impacts northern Scandinavians.

Author Biographies

Anders Götherström, Centre for Palaeogenetics

Professor

Ricardo Rodríguez Varela, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies

Researcher

Original article reference

Rodríguez-Varela, R., Moore, K. H., Ebenesersdóttir, S. S., Kilinc, G. M., Kjellström, A., Papmehl-Dufay, L., ... & Götherström, A. (2023). The genetic history of Scandinavia from the Roman Iron Age to the present. Cell, 186(1), 32-46.