The Centre for Human Bioarchaeology and Palaeogenetics at the Institute for Translational Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University (VU), is inviting to a hybrid lecture by Dr. Lehti Saag, a researcher at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, entitled „North Pontic crossroads: Mobility in Ukraine from the Bronze Age to the early modern period“. The northern lands of the Black Sea, which encompass present-day Ukraine, were once a migratory crossroads linking the vast Eurasian steppe with Central Europe. The study focused on the remains of individuals dating from around 7000 BC to 1800 AD. The complete ancient genomes of 91 individuals were analysed to investigate the history of migration and mobility in this region. In particular, it focused on historically defined migratory groups in the Iron Age and Medieval period. The study revealed a great diversity of ancestral origins and genetic links with different Eurasian groups over time: a great diversity of ancestral origins was found even within geographically, culturally and socially homogeneous groups. Despite this diversity, it has been observed that the genetic components common in eastern and central Europe have been present in the Ukrainian region since the Bronze Age, and that, over the millennia, a high degree of genetic diversity has developed there as a result of frequent movements, assimilation and contacts.
Everyone interested in history, archaeology, population genetics and ancient DNA research is welcome.
Date and time: the 2nd of April, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
Venue: the lecture will take place at the VU Faculty of Medicine, Medical Science Centre, Orange Conference Hall (D1-16.1), Žaliųjų Ežerų str. 2, Vilnius. Remotely – in MS Teams. Link to join.
The lecture will be held in English.
There is no registration for the event, admission is free. Follow the event on Facebook.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Lehti Saag investigates population genetics and ancient DNA. Her doctoral research at the University of Tartu, Estonia, were focused on the Eastern Europe population history, Estonia and Western Russia in particular. From 2021 to 2023 she was a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at University College London, Molecular and Cultural Evolution Laboratory (under supervision of Prof. Mark Thomas), where she has made a research on the demographic history of Ukraine. Now, she has returned to Estonia and is currently a Research Fellow of Ancient DNA and Manager of Ancient DNA Facilities in the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu.