Mystery of the origin of ancient civilizations
Scientists from the Institute of history, max Planck found that the Minoan and Mycenaean civilization was founded by the descendants of the people of the Neolithic age, who lived in Greece and West Anatolia. The researchers analyzed DNA extracted from ancient remains. Art historians published in the journal Nature.
The Minoan civilization existed on Crete in the 2600-1100 BC. It is believed that she was the first in Europe society, which has been written. Mycenaean civilization (1700-1050 years BC) arose in mainland Greece and was part of the Minoan culture. Its linear B script is an early form of the Greek language.
Scientists have studied the genomes of 19 representatives of the ancient cultures, including the Minoans, Mycenaeans and the people of the Neolithic of mainland Greece and representatives of the bronze age, who lived in South-West Anatolia (modern Turkey).
DNA was compared to previously obtained genetic data, covering the three thousand ancient and modern people. It turned out that the Minoans were descendants of the Neolithic farmers of Western Anatolia and the Aegean. In addition, we found some confusion with the populations of the Caucasus and Iran.
It was thought that the Eastern part of their ancestry, these Europeans have received from the steppe pastoralists from the North. The Mycenaeans were indeed typical of the Northern pastoral cultures DNA, however, the Minoans it was not. According to scientists, this suggests a previously unknown migration from the East, i.e. from the Caucasus and Iran. Migration from the North could only affect the Mycenaean civilization, however, did not reach Crete.