15 May 2018
We present a new spatially explicit computer simulation approach to estimate partial population continuity through time using ancient DNA.
The approach uses a pair of genetic or genomic samples of different times but located in same area to estimate the genetic legacy of individuals belonging to the most ancient population to the most recent population. It provides a useful tool for the analysis of the numerous ancient DNA data sets that are currently being produced for many different species.
We applied our original approach to the question of the Neolithic transition in Central Europe and show that a substantial proportion of genes brought by the farmers in this region were assimilated from hunter-gatherer populations during the Neolithic spread from Anatolia.
