Genomic analysis of 18th-century kazakh individuals and their oral microbiome

The Asian Central Steppe, consisting of current-day Kazakhstan and Russia, has acted as a highway for major migrations throughout history. Therefore, describing the genetic composition of past populations in Central Asia holds value to understanding human mobility in this pivotal region. In this study, we analyse paleogenomic data generated from five humans from Kuygenzhar, Kazakhstan. These individuals date to the early to mid-18th century, shortly after the Kazakh Khanate was founded, a union of nomadic tribes of Mongol Golden Horde and Turkic origins. Genomic analysis identifies that these individuals are admixed with varying proportions of East Asian ancestry, indicating a recent admixture event from East Asia. The high amounts of DNA from the anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria Tannerella forsythia, a periodontal pathogen, recovered from their teeth suggest they may have suffered from periodontitis disease. Genomic analysis of this bacterium identified recently evolved virulence and glycosylation genes including the presence of antibiotic resistance genes predating the antibiotic era. This study provides an integrated analysis of individuals with a diet mostly based on meat (mainly horse and lamb), milk, and dairy products and their oral microbiome

Formation of cultural landscape of Bozok settlement

Получены новые данные, свидетельствующие, что на протяжении длительного времени городище Бозок использовалось не столько как жилое поселение, сколько как особое сакральное пространство.Bozok settlement has unusual topographies. It is located on the left side of flood plain valley of Ishim river. Monument has a complex space structure that consist of a residential, defensive, religious, production buildings and outbuildings. These structures arose at different times, they were rebuilt, renewed, were thrown. The excavations revealed that small territory of Bozok settlement was inhabited for seven — eight centuries from 8th (perhaps, 7th century) until 15th century. In 8-8th centuries three square-shaped platforms were built on the elevated place with total area 12636 sq.m. Platforms composed a form of a three-part rosettes. Each area is surrounded by an inner moat and outer rampart. Architecture of fortifications and cultural layers of the northern area indicate religious purpose of these structures. In the 10-12th centuries in the northern part of the monument appear dwellings of a dugout type and an irrigation system. During the Golden Horde period in the 13-14th centuries on neglected ruins of the previous time Muslim necropolis is formed, mausoleums were built, brick kilns. Cultural landscape of Bozok settlement has formed for centuries. The complex structure of this monument reflects the special model of settling space of the medieval population. Barrens connected with functional factor — initial choice of this place, as cult’s center of ancient Turkic epoch, and conservation status of a sacredness of the place in a genealogical memory of generations in the next centuries