Genetic study of Konkani communities rewrites migration story

Ancient migrations into South Asia may have involved women as well as men, according to a new genetic study of Konkani-speaking communities along India’s west coast. Comparisons with ancient DNA suggested that prehistoric migrations into South Asia were more complex than previously understood.

Researchers from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, and Mangalore University found traces of West Eurasian and Steppe-linked maternal lineages among some groups, offering fresh insights into the region’s complex population history.

The findings of the study led by CCMB’s K. Thangaraj and Mangalore University's M.S. Mustak challenge the notion that Bronze Age migrations into the subcontinent were driven predominantly by males. The Konkan region, stretching from Daman in the north to the Gangavalli River and Karwar in the south, is known for its rich cultural, linguistic and social diversity.

Although Konkani is spoken across the region, its speakers belong to several communities with distinct histories and traditions. To trace their maternal origins, researchers analysed maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 295 Konkani-speaking individuals.

The population was broadly classified into Sarasvata and non-Sarasvata groups, based on oral traditions regarding ancestry linked to the ancient Sarasvati region. The analysis found that the overall maternal ancestry of Konkani speakers is indigenous to South Asia. However, Sarasvata groups showed slightly stronger affinities with West Eurasian and Steppe-associated maternal lineages than non-Sarasvata groups.

The study’s first author, Jaison Sequeira, said the findings highlight the multilayered ancestry of Konkani communities. “By examining complete mitochondrial genomes, we uncover the rich ancestry that both unites and distinguishes Konkani communities, shaped by geography, climate and culture over millennia,” he said.

The researchers also compared the mtDNA data with genetic information from more than 5,000 individuals across Eurasia. The results indicated that the maternal gene pool of Konkani-speaking populations reflects a blend of deeply rooted South Asian and West Eurasian lineages.

According to Prof. Mustak, a significant portion of this maternal diversity can be traced to ancient source populations that likely originated in the Near East around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, between 26,500 and 19,000 years ago. These lineages appear to have mixed with local populations during subsequent periods of climatic recovery and human migration.

The study also identified the effects of founder events and long-term endogamy-driven genetic drift among occupational communities such as the Kharvi and Kudubi groups. In contrast, Gaud Saraswat Brahmins and Roman Catholic communities displayed comparatively higher genetic diversity.

“Our study bridges a crucial gap in understanding the peopling of South Asia, one of the world’s most diverse population regions. The presence of West Eurasian and Steppe-associated maternal lineages within Sarasvata groups demonstrates that ancient migrations were complex demographic events involving both maternal and paternal contributions,” said Dr Thangaraj.

CSIR-CCMB Director Vinay Kumar Nandicoori said the genetic history of Konkani-speaking populations forms an important part of understanding the ethnolinguistic evolution of India’s western coast. Other authors of the study include linguist Prof. George van Driem of the University of Bern and Dr Lomous Kumar of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. The study, has been published in the journal Heredity.