Schütz, O.; Maroti, Z.; Tihanyi, B.; Kiss P, A.; Nyerki, E.; Ginguta, A.; Kiss, P.; Varga, G. I. B.; Kovacs, B.; Maar, K.; Kovacsoczy Ny., B.; Lukacs, N.; Major, I.; Marcsik, A.; Patyi, E.; Szigeti, A.; Toth, Z.; Walter, D.; Wilhelm, G.; Andrasi Cs., R.; Bernert, Z.; Kis, L.; Ota, L.; Palfi, G.; Pintye, G.; Popity, D.; Simalcsik, A.; Soficaru, A. D.; Spekker, O.; Varga, S.; Neparaczki, E.; Török, T.

The nomadic Sarmatians dominated the Pontic Steppe from 3rd century BCE and the Great Hungarian Plain from 50 CE until the Huns\' 4th-century expansion. In this study, we present the first large-scale genetic analysis of 156 genomes from 1st- to 5th-century Hungary and the Carpathian foothills. Our findings reveal minor East Asian ancestry in the Carpathian Basin (CB) Sarmatians, distinguishing them from other regional populations. Using F4-statistics, qpAdm, and IBD analysis, we show that CB Sarmatians descended from Steppe Sarmatians originating in the Ural and Kazakhstan regions, with Romanian Sarmatians serving as a genetic bridge between the two groups. We also identify two previously unknown migration waves during the Sarmatian era and a notable continuity of the Sarmatian population into the Hunnic period, despite a smaller influx of Asian-origin individuals. These results shed new light on Sarmatian migrations and the genetic history of a key population neighbouring the Roman Empire.