The first inhabitants of Mazovia, dating back to the 10th century, do not have Scandinavian roots, as some researchers previously suggested. New findings by archaeologists from the Polish Academy of Sciences have shown that they had mixed origins: Slavic, Baltic and Asian.
Innovative research approach
A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Andrzej Buko of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnology at the Polish Academy of Sciences conducted interdisciplinary research using modern analytical methods, such as paleogenetic analysis (aDNA), strontium isotope studies (to determine provenance), carbon, sulfur and nitrogen isotopes (to analyze diet) and radiocarbon dating (AMS). This provided a comprehensive picture of the lives and origins of the first inhabitants of Mazovia.
One of the most surprising discoveries was thatthere were no Scandinavian haplogroups among the remains studied, contrary to previous assumptions. Instead, three major haplogroups were identified: Slavic, Baltic and Asiatic. The presence of the Asiatic haplogroup may indicate the influence of peoples such as the Avars, who in the Middle Ages settled in the Carpathian Basin, from where they may have migrated to Mazovia.
Regional differences among the inhabitants of Mazovia
Anthropological research has revealed significant differences between residents of the western and eastern parts of Mazovia. People buried in the western part of the region were characterized by better health and greater mobility compared to residents of eastern Mazovia, who had a more sedentary lifestyle. These differences may reflect different living conditions and cultural influences in each part of the region.
New chronology of tombs
Until now, it was thought that tombs with stone enclosures appeared in Mazovia only in the mid-11th century. However, recent research indicates that the largest of these structures probably date back to the late 10th century, during the period of Piast expansion from Greater Poland. The smaller tombs, found in Podlasie, are somewhat younger, suggesting the direction of the spread of these burial practices to the east.
Sources: naukawpolsce.pl, iaepan.edu.pl
