
<p>Every year on April 25th, the world observes World Malaria Day to highlight the ongoing effort to control and eliminate this devastating disease. This month, we are highlighting a study that searched for cases of ancient malaria infections across the globe to learn about its history and spread.</p>



<p>While most ancient DNA studies focus on the human DNA of the individuals whose remains were sampled, it is also possible to learn about the diseases these individuals carried by searching for pathogen DNA in their remains.</p>



<p>These kinds of studies have enabled researchers to investigate the origins and spread of ancient diseases that were otherwise nearly impossible to study. This is because many ancient diseases, including malaria, don’t leave clear physical evidence on skeletal remains. Furthermore, historical records of ancient epidemics often lack the specificity needed to identify exactly which diseases were present or where they originated.</p>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38867050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In 2024</a>, a team of researchers looked at ancient DNA to search for cases of malaria among more than 10,000 individuals. In this month’s update to the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature, we are highlighting the stories of individuals buried at three ancient sites where malaria was detected. Each of their stories provides important new insights into the history of this ancient disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spreading-malaria-along-european-military-lines">Spreading Malaria Along European Military Lines</h2>



<p>In Europe, the cemetery of St. Rombout’s in Mechelen, Belgium, offers a window into the health of a continent at war. Sitting next to one of the world’s first permanent military hospitals, this site served as a burial ground for both local townspeople and foreign soldiers from the 12th to the 18th centuries.</p>



<p>While local residents, who were buried at this site before the hospital was established, showed fewer signs of infection, later individuals—thought to be soldiers who had traveled from the Mediterranean—were often found carrying multiple strains of malaria simultaneously. These findings highlight how the movement of armies turned European cities into crossroads for infectious disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carrying-malaria-to-the-himalayan-peaks">Carrying Malaria to the Himalayan Peaks</h2>



<p>The high-altitude site of Chokhopani sits 2,800 meters above sea level in the Nepalese Himalayas. This environment is far too cold and dry for the <em>Anopheles</em> mosquitoes that transmit malaria to survive. Yet, genomic analysis of an individual buried within one of the site’s cliffside tombs nearly 3,000 years ago revealed the presence of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>, the most virulent form of the malaria parasite.</p>



<p>Finding a tropical disease in a mountain environment provides clear evidence of human mobility. It tells us that this ancient individual had likely traveled to warmer, lower-altitude regions—possibly for trade—and carried the infection back to this highland site.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-arrival-of-malaria-in-the-americas">Tracking the Arrival of Malaria in the Americas</h2>



<p>A central debate among disease researchers is whether malaria existed in the Americas prior to European contact or if it was brought there by European colonizers. The study of individuals from the site of Laguna de los Cóndores in Peru provides a pretty clear answer.</p>



<p>Researchers at the site discovered an individual with exclusively Indigenous American ancestry who lived during the period of initial European contact and was infected with <em>Plasmodium vivax </em>(a more widespread form of the malaria parasite). Crucially, the DNA of the parasite was most similar to historical European strains rather than those found elsewhere. This finding suggests that European colonizers acted as the primary vector for introducing these specific malaria strains to the Indigenous populations of the Andes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p>Want to see if you share a genetic connection with any of the ancient malaria-infected individuals highlighted in this study—or with hundreds of other historical individuals? The Historical Matches feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23and</a><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">M</a><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">e+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



<p></p>


Scientist II, Population Genetics R&D

Éadaoin Harney

New Historical Matches Could Connect You to the Hidden History of Malaria





<p>High on a vertical cliff face on the Yun-Gui Plateau of southwest China, you can find the entrance to Pingtang Cave. For centuries, this remote site held a somber secret: the remains of dozens of individuals scattered within its deepest, oxygen-poor reaches.</p>



<p>Now, thanks to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106459" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a> published in the <em>Journal of Archaeological Science</em> earlier this year, the stories of these individuals are coming to light. This month, 23andMe is adding four individuals from this cliff-side site to our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-landscape-in-transition">A Landscape in Transition</h2>



<p>During the 14th century, the Yun-Gui Plateau was a region of immense cultural and political transformation. As the Ming Dynasty sought to consolidate power and expand its borders into the southwest, the area became a frontier of conflict. The rugged karst landscape, characterized by its towering limestone cliffs and deep river valleys, served as both a strategic stronghold for the military and a vital sanctuary for local communities caught in the crossfire of imperial expansion.</p>



<p>Historically known for its incredible ethnolinguistic diversity, the plateau was home to various indigenous groups who had inhabited these mountains for millennia. The transition between the Late Yuan and Early Ming periods in the 14th century brought an influx of new people and upheavals in local government, creating a complex social tapestry. For the families found in Pingtang Cave, these remote, high-altitude caverns were not just geological features—they were essential places of refuge during a time of profound uncertainty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-refuge-not-a-cemetery">A Refuge, Not a Cemetery</h2>



<p>When researchers first investigated Pingtang Cave, they quickly realized this was no ordinary burial ground. Unlike traditional sites of the era, there were no coffins, no grave goods, and no signs of formal interment. Instead, the skeletons were found in the deepest recesses of the cave, far from the light of the entrance.</p>



<p>While most of the group appeared to be healthy prior to entering the cave, the genetic analysis revealed that one individual was suffering from paratyphoid fever, caused by the bacterium <em>Salmonella enterica</em>. Her genome also revealed that her parents were likely closely related, perhaps as closely as second cousins, a finding that provides unique insight into the social and mating structures of isolated plateau communities during this era.</p>



<p>The lack of physical trauma or signs of violence ruled out a massacre, while the absence of a widespread plague suggested something else entirely. Researchers believe these families fled to the cave to escape external conflict, perhaps the unrest of the Ming Dynasty’s expansion into the region, only to succumb to the low oxygen of the cave&#8217;s deepest chambers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-families-of-pingtang-cave">The Families of Pingtang Cave</h2>



<p>The genetic data reveals that those who fled to the cave were not strangers; they were a tightly-knit community of relatives. Most of these individuals shared the same maternal lineage (haplogroup M7b1a1), suggesting that the group was a multi-generational family, who were connected through a shared maternal lineage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-heritage">A Window into Heritage</h2>



<p>All of the members of this group shared a similar ancestral profile, characterized by a mixture of ancient northern and southern East Asian ancestry. This genetic signature persists today in the present-day inhabitants of southwest China, bridging the gap between the people living during the transition into the Ming Dynasty and the modern world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now explore whether they share a genetic link to these ancient Chinese individuals, and hundreds of others, through the Historical Matches feature.</p>


New Historical Matches Could Connect You to a 600 Year Old Mystery in Southwest China




<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-remote-island-at-the-heart-of-history">A Remote Island at the Heart of History</h2>



<p>Located 1,200 miles from the coast of Africa, Saint Helena is perhaps best known as the final place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte. However, the island&#8217;s genetic story is much more complex than a single French emperor.</p>



<p>While the Island of St. Helena was first sighted by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century, its modern trajectory began in 1659 when the English East India Company established a permanent settlement. Its strategic position along the vital trade routes between Europe and Asia made it an important resupply station for ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope. This central role in maritime commerce resulted in a diverse blend of inhabitants from European settlers, Chinese laborers, and enslaved people brought from Madagascar, Malaysia, India, and Africa.</p>



<p>Starting in 1840, St. Helena became a pivotal base for the British Royal Navy’s campaign to suppress the transatlantic slave trade. Between 1840 and 1867, the Navy intercepted slave ships and brought approximately 27,000 &#8220;liberated Africans&#8221; to the island. While these individuals were freed from bondage, many had suffered immensely during the Middle Passage, and some of those who did not survive were buried on St. Helena. For centuries, the specific origins of those buried here were lost, until now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoring-lost-connections">Restoring Lost Connections</h2>



<p>In 2007 and 2008 archeologists uncovered the remains of 325 individuals during roadwork on the north coast of St. Helena associated with the construction of the island’s first ever airport. Ancient DNA researchers <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37683613/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sequenced the genomes</a> of 20 of those individuals. This research has provided the first direct evidence of their origins:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Geographic Roots</strong>: DNA revealed that these individuals likely originated from West Central Africa, specifically the region between northern Angola and Gabon.</li>



<li><strong>A Snapshot of the Trade</strong>: The genetic analysis aligned with broader archaeological findings that confirmed a significant sex bias: 17 of the 20 individuals were male. This reflects the documented patterns of the late-stage slave trade.</li>
</ul>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now see if they share DNA with 7 of the 20 individuals whose genomes were sequenced who are now included in the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature. This update means you may find a genetic connection to these specific historical individuals, helping to restore a genealogical bridge that was once thought to be permanently broken.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-genetic-tapestry-of-modern-saints-nbsp">The Genetic Tapestry of Modern &#8220;Saints&#8221;&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The story of St. Helena doesn&#8217;t end in the 19th century. Today’s islanders, known as &#8220;Saints,&#8221; carry a diverse genetic legacy shaped by the island&#8217;s role as a global crossroads. To investigate the modern genetics of St. Helena we looked at 23andMe members who reported recent ancestors from St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. From this we created our new &#8220;Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha&#8221; Genetic Group allowing 23andMe members to see if they have a connection to people from this British Overseas Territory within the Migrations section of their Ancestry Composition report.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In creating this Genetic Group we noticed some interesting highlights:&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The modern population is a blend of African, European, and Asian roots.</li>



<li>&#8220;Saints&#8221; often show an interesting bias in their maternal and paternal lines. Maternal haplogroups frequently point toward Austronesian or South Asian ancestry, while paternal lines are often a mix of South Asian and European origins.</li>



<li>Interestingly, there is little overlap between the people who match the liberated Africans in our Historical Matches and those who receive matches to the St. Helena Genetic Group. This might suggest that many of the liberated Africans eventually left the island or died without descendants who remained there, while the modern &#8220;Saints&#8221; who make up this Genetic Group may represent a separate chapter of the island&#8217;s vibrant history.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34932" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1024x529.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-300x155.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-768x397.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-880x455.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1180x610.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><em>The averaged Ancestry Composition of the individuals in the Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Genetic Group (left) and individuals who have Historical Matches to the The Liberated Africans of St. Helena Island (right).</em></em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why This Matters</h2>



<p>Genetics is more than just percentages on a map; it can be a tool for historical justice and personal discovery. By studying both the ancient DNA of historical individuals and the data of modern populations, we can honor the legacy of those whose stories were omitted from history books. Whether you are a &#8220;Saint&#8221; yourself or a 23andMe member discovering a new connection to the South Atlantic, these updates remind us that our DNA is a living record of the journeys that shaped our world.</p>



Genetics of a Global Crossroads: A Deep Dive into Saint Helena’s Ancestry




<p>Long-distance relationships are nothing new. In the 6th century, the Silk Road was the ultimate connector: a thousands-of-miles-long highway spanning from Asia to Southern Europe, that brought people, religions, and traditions together. This Valentine’s Day, we’re looking at the story of a partnership that emerged from this ancient trade route.</p>



<p>In 2005, archaeologists discovered a joint tomb just outside the ancient Chinese capital of Chang’an (modern-day Xi&#8217;an). According to inscriptions found at the site, the tomb belonged to a man named Li Dan and his wife, a couple who had been laid to rest there approximately 1,500 years ago.</p>



<p>While a DNA test cannot technically &#8220;prove&#8221; if two people were in love, their shared burial and the unique mix of designs inspired by two distinctive cultures found on their tomb suggest a connection that defied geographical barriers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-mystery-written-in-stone">A Mystery Written in Stone</h2>



<p>For centuries, the story of this couple was a riddle hidden in plain sight. Li Dan’s funeral inscription made two contradictory claims: it stated he was a descendant of prestigious Chinese aristocratic clans, yet it also identified his father and grandfather as Brahmins from ancient South Asian kingdoms.</p>



<p>The rest of the tomb only added to the mystery, as it featured a fusion of cultures. Although the tomb was built in a traditional Chinese architectural style, it was decorated with a mixture of local mythical figures, like the Four Divine Beasts, and foreign guardians that resembled Buddhist statues from India. Even more striking was the discovery of a gold coin from the Eastern Roman Empire found in the wife’s mouth—a custom common along the Silk Road but far from the local norm.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="748" height="890" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34839" style="width:337px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing.jpg 748w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing-252x300.jpg 252w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing-740x880.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A line drawing of the entrance to Li Dan&#8217;s tomb</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-cross-border-connection-written-in-dna">A Cross-Border Connection Written in DNA</h2>



<p>Late last year, a team of researchers decided to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105474" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study the couple’s DNA</a> to help resolve the contradictions found in their tomb. The results provided the first direct genomic evidence of a 6th-century couple with such distinct ancestral backgrounds.</p>



<p>Genetic analysis revealed that Li Dan had northern South Asian ancestry. His genetic profile showed broad similarities to present-day Brahmin groups, supporting the inscriptions on his tomb suggesting his family belonged to this community. In contrast, his wife’s ancestry was local to Chang’an, tracing back to ancient farmers of the Middle Yellow River in northern China. The unique mix of Chinese and South Asian influences discovered in their tomb reflects a blending of cultures that likely characterized their lives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-home-at-the-heart-of-the-world">A Home at the Heart of the World</h2>



<p>We may never know how they felt about each other, but their tomb tells us how they may have lived. Li Dan was a high-status traveler who arrived in Chang’an to expound Buddhist scriptures after studying in the kingdom of Jibin. Rather than remaining an outsider, he settled down, married a local woman, and adopted a Chinese surname, all while keeping the traditions of his homeland alive.</p>



<p>This Valentine&#8217;s Day, their story reminds us that even 1,500 years ago, the most enduring connections can bridge different worlds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p>Want to see if you’re genetically connected to this ancient couple, or to hundreds of other historical individuals? The <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



New Historical Matches Could Link You to This 6th Century “Cross-Border” Couple




<p>In 2004, a construction crew preparing to build a shopping center in Norwich, England, uncovered a disturbing mystery: a medieval well containing the commingled remains of at least 17 people. The positioning of the skeletons suggested they had been thrown in head-first, victims of a single, violent event. For years, the identity of these individuals remained unknown, their story lost to the silence of the well.</p>



<p>But thanks to ancient DNA technology, a team of researchers from the Natural History Museum and University College London was finally able to tell their story in a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36044903/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic study published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em> in 2022</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This month, 23andMe is adding these individuals to our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature, allowing customers to see if they share a genetic connection to one of the earliest identified Ashkenazi Jewish communities in England. This update offers a poignant glimpse into this tragic moment in history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-a-medieval-mystery">Solving a Medieval Mystery</h2>



<p>When archaeologists first analyzed the site, the chaotic nature of the burial suggested a catastrophe, such as famine, epidemic, or violent massacre, in which the victims were hastily buried by survivors in a makeshift grave. However the exact nature of this catastrophe remained a mystery.</p>



<p>In this genetic study, researchers sequenced the genomes of six individuals buried within the well, shedding new light on the individuals buried within the mass grave. Their analyses revealed that all six individuals shared strong genetic affinities with present-day Ashkenazi Jewish populations. Additionally, radiocarbon dating placed their deaths between 1161 and 1216 CE. This precise timeline, combined with their ancestry and the location of the well just south of the medieval Jewish quarter, pointed towards a specific historical tragedy in Norwich’s history: the antisemitic riots of February 6, 1190 CE, for which there is historically documented evidence of a massacre of the Jewish community in Norwich.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-connections">Family Connections</h2>



<p>What makes this study particularly powerful is that it revealed that those buried in the well were not strangers, but a group of close relatives who likely sought shelter together during this violent massacre. Among the six individuals whose genomes were sequenced, the research team identified three young sisters and two other distantly related males. This suggests that the victims of this attack were not randomly selected from across the Norwich population, but instead that these may have been members of a single or small number of households or families who had gathered together for protection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-genetic-history">A Window into Genetic History</h2>



<p>This study also provided the first genetic data for a Jewish community in medieval England, offering a new timeline for the Ashkenazi &#8220;genetic bottleneck&#8221;—a historical event detectable in the genomes of people with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry where the population size was drastically reduced, leading to lower genetic diversity. While historians had previously theorized this bottleneck occurred later, during the persecutions of the 14th or 15th centuries, the genetic signatures in the Norwich individuals suggest it began centuries earlier.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This early genetic bottleneck is the reason why variants associated with specific hereditary diseases are common among modern Ashkenazi Jewish populations. With this in mind, the study team searched for these disease-associated markers and discovered that variants responsible for a number of conditions that occur at elevated frequency in Ashkenazi Jewish populations were already present in the medieval Norwich population at frequencies similar to those seen today. This finding challenges the long-held belief that such diseases became more common in this community later in history. Instead, the study demonstrates that the genetic factors affecting Ashkenazi Jewish health today have a lineage stretching back nearly a millennium, predating the major pogroms and expulsions of the later Middle Ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honoring-the-past">Honoring the Past</h2>



<p>Although Jewish law typically prohibits the disturbance of human remains, the likely religious identity of these individuals was unknown during the initial rescue excavation in 2004. However, once researchers suspected that the remains might belong to members of the medieval Jewish community, they immediately consulted with the Norwich Hebrew Congregation. The study proceeded only after receiving specific permission from the Office of the Chief Rabbi to investigate the history of these individuals. Following the completion of osteological and genetic analyses, the remains were respectfully reinterred in the Jewish cemetery in Norwich during a multi-faith ceremony. Today, these individuals are remembered through a commemorative plaque placed near the original site of the well, ensuring their story is no longer lost to history.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34742" style="width:358px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-660x880.jpg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-885x1180.jpg 885w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A photo of the memorial stone that was placed at the site where the individuals were reburied. It is located in the Jewish section of Earlham Cemetery, Norwich.</em> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northmetpit</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Explore Your Connection</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now explore whether they share a genetic link to these individuals–and hundreds of others–through the Historical Matches feature.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Note of Remembrance</h2>



<p>We are releasing this update as we approach January 27, the United Nations-designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. While the events in Norwich occurred centuries before the Holocaust, they serve as a somber reminder of the long history of antisemitism and the atrocities committed against Jewish communities throughout history.</p>



New Historical Matches Could Connect you to the Lost Jewish Community of Medieval Norwich




<p>This December, we’re adding 18 new individuals dating to the Late Antique Period in Dalmatia to our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature.</p>



<p>These newly added historical matches offer a rare biological glimpse into a world in transition during the decline of the Roman Empire. Keep reading to learn more about the region’s unique history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-late-antique-period">What is the Late Antique Period?</h2>



<p>Historians generally define the &#8220;Late Antique&#8221; period as the era between the third and seventh centuries CE. It was a time of significant transformation for the Roman world, as political instability, shifting borders, and economic pressures altered long-standing structures across the Mediterranean. This period bridged the gap between the classical Roman era and the early Middle Ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-is-dalmatia">Where is Dalmatia?</h2>



<p>The Roman province of Dalmatia was situated along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, encompassing much of modern-day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and parts of Serbia and Albania. The region takes its name from the Dalmatae, an Illyrian tribe that historically inhabited the interior.</p>



<p>For centuries, Dalmatia was integrated into the imperial Roman system, featuring established coastal towns, island settlements, and a network of roads and ports that linked the Eastern and Western halves of the Empire. Its position along major maritime routes meant it remained a key logistical hub even as the Empire faced mounting challenges.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-in-the-late-antique-port-of-hvar">Life in the Late Antique Port of Hvar</h2>



<p>Although we know Dalmatia served as a vital connection point during this period, historical records reveal relatively little about the daily lives of its inhabitants. To fill this gap, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39606698/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a 2024 study</a> analyzed the remains of 33 individuals recovered from the Hvar-Radoševi? burial site on the island of Hvar.</p>



<p>Using a multidisciplinary approach that combined ancient DNA sequencing, chemical dietary analysis, and skeletal health assessments, the research team reconstructed the biological profile of this community.</p>



<p>Their findings painted a vivid picture of a community shaped by its connection to the wider Roman world. While most individuals were genetically similar to other ancient Mediterranean populations, the study identified several outliers with roots in the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, confirming the island&#8217;s role as a cosmopolitan crossroads.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the instability of the Roman world at this time also had its impact. Despite access to the sea, the dietary analysis revealed a surprise: the population appears to have consumed very little seafood, subsisting mostly on grains and terrestrial crops. The skeletal evidence further revealed that life in this strategic port was physically demanding, characterized by high childhood mortality and signs of significant physiological stress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p>Could you be connected to the inhabitants of Late Antique Dalmatia—or to hundreds of other historical individuals? The Historical Matches feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



New Historical Matches Could Connect You to the Dalmatian Coast During the Late Roman Period


<p>Everything we do at the 23andMe Research Institute starts with our amazing community of consented research participants. The data they share helps our scientists uncover new insights about genetics, across health and ancestry, pushing science forward in ways that we hope can benefit different communities, researchers, and future generations. These discoveries are also returned to our members in the form of new reports and features: from more detailed ancestry breakdowns to new health reports on a variety of conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With that spirit of discovery in mind, here are some of the new reports and product features that our consented research participants and expert scientists helped to make happen in 2025.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-genetic-health-amp-wellness-reports-and-features">New Genetic Health &amp; Wellness Reports and Features</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="353" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/health-product-generic.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34664" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/health-product-generic.png 960w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/health-product-generic-300x110.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/health-product-generic-768x282.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/health-product-generic-880x324.png 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<p>This year, consented 23andMe research participants, along with our groundbreaking research platform, delivered new polygenic risk score (PRS) reports to our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members, offering deeper insights into complex health conditions.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/genetics-may-explain-why-some-athletes-are-more-prone-to-acl-tears"><strong>ACL Tear</strong></a></td><td>Shows how a person&#8217;s genetics may influence their likelihood of experiencing an ACL tear, an injury common in high-impact sports.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/menopause-isnt-just-for-later-what-you-should-know-now"><strong>Early Menopause</strong></a></td><td>Offers insights to female members into the genetic predisposition for experiencing natural menopause before age 45.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/could-your-painful-periods-be-endometriosis-heres-what-you-should-know"><strong>Endometriosis</strong></a></td><td>Helps female members understand their genetic likelihood of developing endometriosis, a common condition that often takes years to diagnose.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/acid-attack-unraveling-the-genetics-of-gerd"><strong>GERD</strong></a></td><td>Provides insight into the genetics of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that impacts around 20% of people in the U.S.&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/osteoporosis-report"><strong>Osteoporosis</strong></a></td><td>Estimates an individual&#8217;s genetic likelihood of developing low bone density.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-report-on-severe-morning-sickness"><strong>Severe Morning Sickness</strong></a></td><td>Allows female members to assess their genetic likelihood of experiencing severe morning sickness during pregnancy.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>We also answered the call from our members to provide more information about MTHFR as well as genetic differences that can impact health disparities.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/our-take-on-the-mthfr-gene"><strong>Homocysteine (MTHFR-Related)</strong></a></td><td>Examines common variants in the MTHFR gene associated with slightly increased homocysteine levels in the blood.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-duffy-antigen-gene-a-clue-behind-white-blood-cell-differences"><strong>White Blood Cell Count (Duffy Antigen-Related)</strong></a></td><td>Raises awareness about the Duffy null genotype, which is common among people with African ancestry and leads to naturally lower white blood cell counts. Understanding this can help prevent misdiagnoses and unnecessary follow-up testing.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-health-beyond-dna"><br>Expanding Health Beyond DNA</h3>



<p>We further expanded our integrated health offerings to include expanded direct access to blood testing services (where available), including the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-expands-blood-testing-biological-age">Biological Age Panel</a>. This allows members to get a more complete health picture by combining genetic and real-time health data.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-ancestry-updates">Major Ancestry Updates</h2>



<p>2025 brought the most significant update ever to our Ancestry Composition report, expanding granularity and increasing accuracy across the globe. Members can now see if they have connections to more than 4,500 geographic regions, the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market.</p>



<p><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/ancestry-composition-version-7-is-here" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Ancestry Composition v7.0</strong></a> was a major overhaul, adding 33 new European populations and 6 new Indigenous American populations to our Ancestry Composition breakdown. Thanks to a new DNA phasing pipeline and a new method for refining reference panels, the update also improved accuracy for other regions of the world. Finally, a new chromosome painting method&nbsp; eliminated &#8220;Broadly&#8221; and &#8220;Unassigned&#8221; categories in the default view.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="508" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1024x508.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34636" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1024x508.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-300x149.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-768x381.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-880x437.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1180x586.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/image.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>We also added more than 800 new Genetic Groups this year. These updates were available to all 23andMe members, with additional features (such as <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/discover-distant-genetic-groups-with-23andme-premium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Distant Genetic Groups</a>) for 23andMe+ Premium members.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-genetic-groups-in-eastern-europe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Eastern European Genetic Groups</strong></a></td><td>Introduces Genetic Groups for people with ancestry in Belarus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/european-diaspora-genetic-groups-update" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>European Diaspora</strong></a> <strong><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/genetic-groups-french-german-us-canada" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genetic Groups</a></strong></td><td>Adds new Genetic Groups for people of European descent who settled in the U.S., Canada, and South Africa.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-new-era-for-african-genetic-groups-at-23andme" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Expanded African Genetic Groups</strong></a></td><td>Expands from 25 to over 250 Genetic Groups across Sub-Saharan Africa, offering significantly more detail and precision for members in the African diaspora.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-genetic-groups-in-china-korea-mongolia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Genetic Groups in China, Korea, Mongolia</strong></a></td><td>Expands Genetic Groups in East Asia, providing matches for members with ancestry from China, Korea, and Mongolia.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/genetic-groups-south-asia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>South Asian Genetic Groups</strong></a></td><td>Adds more detail to Genetic Groups in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-matches">Historical Matches</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="393" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-1024x393.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34662" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-1024x393.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-300x115.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-768x295.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-880x338.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1-1180x453.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/historical_matches-1.png 1668w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature continued to expand with over 275 new individuals added, connecting 23andMe+ Premium members to ancient and notable figures from diverse eras and regions.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-ancient-china" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Ancient China</strong></a></td><td>Adds fifty-six new Historical Matches from three recent studies of ancient China, offering connections to populations like those in Shandong Province and Chang’an.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-could-connect-you-to-cheddar-man-and-britains-earliest-farmers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Cheddar Man and Early Farmers in Britain</strong></a></td><td>Allows members to explore how the transition to farming transformed ancient Britain through 18 ancient individuals, including the famous Cheddar Man.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-beyond-an-xx-or-xy-binary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Chromosome Number Diversity in the Past</strong></a></td><td>Adds historical matches based on a 2024 study identifying ancient individuals in Britain with sex chromosome variations (aneuploidies).</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-african-american-us-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Early Colonial Africans in Mexico &amp; Individuals from Catoctin Furnace</strong></a></td><td>Expands the Historical Matches feature to include 16 new historical African and African American individuals from Catoctin Furnace (U.S.) and colonial Mexico.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-from-early-medieval-france" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Early Medieval France</strong></a></td><td>Features individuals from early medieval France, highlighting evidence of migration from Great Britain, Ireland, and North Africa in shaping the region&#8217;s demography.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-connect-to-erik-the-reds-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Erik the Red&#8217;s Homestead</strong></a></td><td>Adds four new individuals from the Viking Age settlement of Brattahlid, the homestead of Erik the Red, to the Historical Matches feature.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-could-connect-you-a-lineage-of-iron-age-celtic-women-in-britain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Iron Age Celtic Women</strong></a></td><td>Adds matches to a lineage of Iron Age Celtic women in Britain, suggesting a matrilocal society.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-could-connect-you-to-medieval-iberians" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Medieval Iberians</strong></a></td><td>Adds individuals from Las Gobas, a medieval site in northern Spain, revealing insights into a small, isolated Christian community.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-may-link-you-to-named-historical-figures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Named Historical Figures</strong></a></td><td>Includes DNA matches for notable individuals like George Bähr (German architect) and Bishop Peder Winstrup (Swedish bishop).</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-ancient-irish-elite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Neolithic Ireland</strong></a></td><td>Adds individuals connected to an elite, megalithic society in Neolithic Ireland that built passage tombs over 5,000 years ago.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-the-mysterious-skeletons-of-roopkund-lake" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The Mystery of Roopkund Lake</strong></a></td><td>Features genetic analysis of skeletons from Roopkund Lake, revealing three distinct groups with South Asian, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian ancestries.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-historical-matches-could-connect-you-to-europes-viking-age" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Viking Age Europe</strong></a></td><td>Adds 23 individuals from sites across Europe and Greenland to study the genetic diversity of the Viking Age.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-continue-to-deliver-cutting-edge-ancestry-science-nbsp">We continue to deliver cutting-edge ancestry science&nbsp;</h3>



<p>This year we also improved the DNA Relatives features with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/update-to-dna-relatives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two new updates</a>: improved relationship prediction estimates and the HybridIBD™ algorithm. These updates dramatically enhance the accuracy of DNA Relatives predictions, in particular benefiting members with diverse ancestries.</p>



<p>Finally we recently launched Reconstructed Ancestors to 23andMe+ Premium <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013592713-23andMe-Beta-Testing-Program?_gl=1%2Aqni4iy%2A_ga%2ANjA0MDE5NzczLjE3NTE0NzQwNTA.%2A_ga_G330GF3ZFF%2AczE3NTU4ODE1NjQkbzUwJGcxJHQxNzU1ODgxNzAzJGo2MCRsMCRoMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta testers</a>. This early feature uses a highly advanced algorithm along with your DNA and the DNA from relatives on your Family Tree, to piece together the ancestry composition of ungenotyped parents, grandparents and eventually other ancestors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-year-of-insight-and-connection">A Year of Insight and Connection</h2>



<p>2025 gave us the opportunity to bring a wealth of new insights and features to our members, and the cycle of discovery isn’t slowing down thanks to the continued participation of our research community. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to push genetic science even further, expanding what’s possible and continuing to build a more inclusive, accurate, and empowering experience for everyone on their journey of self-discovery. The best is yet to come.</p>


23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

From Research to Real Insights: 23andMe’s New Product Features for 2025


<p>The invention of farming was one of the most transformative developments in human history. It didn’t happen just once — agriculture was independently invented in multiple locations across the globe beginning around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, soon after the end of the last Ice Age. As farming spread, it reshaped human societies, diets, and even our DNA.</p>



<p>This month, we’re exploring how this transformation unfolded in ancient Britain by adding 18 ancient individuals who lived before and after the adoption of farming to the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature — including one ancient individual whose name you might recognize: Cheddar Man.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-arrival-of-farming-to-ancient-britain">The Arrival of Farming to Ancient Britain</h2>



<p>For most of the last Ice Age, Britain — like much of northern Europe — was too cold and inhospitable for humans to live there year-round. As the climate warmed around 12,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer groups began to resettle the region. This period is known as the Mesolithic Period (10,000–4,000 BCE).</p>



<p>At that time, Britain was still connected to continental Europe by a vast, low-lying plain called Doggerland, which allowed people and animals to move freely between the two regions. Around 8,000 years ago, rising sea levels submerged Doggerland beneath the North Sea, leaving Britain — and nearby Ireland — geographically isolated from the rest of Europe.</p>



<p>Because of this isolation, the spread of farming, which began in southwestern Europe about 9,000 years ago, didn’t reach Britain until roughly 6,000 years ago. That arrival marks the start of the Neolithic period (4,000–2,500 BCE) — a time of sweeping change that reshaped diets, settlement patterns, and daily life across the islands.</p>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30988490/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In 2019</a>, researchers published the genomes of six Mesolithic and sixteen Neolithic individuals from across Britain to understand how the shift to farming affected local populations. They wanted to know whether Britain’s first farmers were descendants of earlier Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, or newcomers who migrated from the continent.</p>



<p>The results supported the second scenario: the earliest farmers in Britain had genetic ancestry distinct from the earlier hunter-gatherers, and were instead most closely related to farming populations from the Aegean region. This finding suggests that agriculture arrived in Britain not by cultural diffusion, but through the migration of farming communities who largely replaced the local Mesolithic populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-was-cheddar-man">Who was Cheddar Man?</h2>



<p>Perhaps the most famous individual included in the 2019 study was Cheddar Man, a Mesolithic hunter-gatherer whose nickname comes from where he was discovered — Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. He lived around 10,000 years ago, and his skeleton remains one of the oldest and most complete ever found in Britain.</p>



<p>Using 3D scans of his skull and genetic data extracted from his remains, researchers <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/cheddar-man-mesolithic-britain-blue-eyed-boy.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">created a facial reconstruction</a> showing that Cheddar Man likely had dark skin, dark curly hair, and blue eyes — a combination that was probably common among Mesolithic Europeans.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-1024x683.jpg" alt="Cheddar Man reconstruction. Attribution:
Werner Ustorf, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons" class="wp-image-34462" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cheddar_Man_National_History_Museum_London-1180x787.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A reconstruction of Cheddar Man</em>. <em>Werner Ustorf, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>These results challenged long-held assumptions about what the first inhabitants of Britain looked like and helped spark a broader conversation about how human populations in Europe — and their appearances — have changed over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-reminder-of-why-we-need-to-present-scientific-findings-with-care">A Reminder of Why We Need to Present Scientific Findings with Care</h2>



<p>Cheddar Man’s DNA has made headlines before. In 1997, researchers at the University of Oxford extracted the first ancient DNA from his remains. This early analysis focused on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) — the small portion of the genome inherited only through the maternal line. They identified Cheddar Man’s mtDNA as belonging to haplogroup U5, later refined to the U5b1 sub-lineage. This maternal lineage was common among Mesolithic hunter-gatherers across Europe, highlighting Cheddar Man’s genetic connections to other post-Ice Age populations.</p>



<p>Although scientifically valid, the way this finding was presented to the public caused confusion. As part of a public engagement project, researchers compared Cheddar Man’s mtDNA to that of residents in the nearby village of Cheddar. One participant, a local schoolteacher, shared the same U5 haplogroup. This was reported as evidence of continuity between ancient and modern populations — and media outlets sensationalized it as proof that a “direct descendant” of Cheddar Man was living nearby.</p>



<p>In reality, that connection was likely extremely distant. The U5 haplogroup is ancient (emerging around 25,000–30,000 years ago) and widespread, found in roughly 5–12% of modern Europeans, meaning many unrelated people carry it by chance. Moreover, because mitochondrial DNA is passed only from mothers to children, it cannot be used to identify direct descendants of a male individual like Cheddar Man.</p>



<p>This story is a reminder of the importance of communicating genetic findings carefully. At 23andMe we search across your whole genome for places where you share identical DNA. Nevertheless, if Cheddar Man appears among your Historical Matches, it does not mean you are his direct descendant. Instead, it means you share a distant common ancestor somewhere in the past — possibly long before Cheddar Man lived — and inherited the same segment of DNA from that ancestor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn more</h2>



<p>Now that you know more about Cheddar Man — and what genetic analyses can (and cannot) tell you about your relationship to him — check out the Historical Matches feature (available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members). You can see whether your DNA connects you with Cheddar Man or any of the other ancient individuals from across Britain highlighted this month — along with the hundreds of other historical people already included in the feature.</p>


New Historical Matches Could Connect You to Cheddar Man and Britain’s Earliest Farmers


<p>Every year on the third Saturday in October, the world celebrates International Archaeology Day, recognizing the important contributions archaeological research makes to society. This year, to celebrate, we&#8217;re spotlighting one of our favorite archaeological mysteries in the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM </sup>feature—the skeletons of Roopkund Lake.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-roopkund-lake"><strong>About Roopkund Lake</strong></h2>



<p>Roopkund Lake is a small glacial lake located over 5,000 meters (over 16,000 ft) above sea level in the Nanda Devi National Park, in the Indian Himalayas. In 1942, a forest ranger patrolling the park stumbled upon a chilling scene: hundreds of skeletal remains strewn around the lake. The site has captivated researchers and locals alike ever since.</p>



<p>The mystery of who these individuals were, how they died, and why they were in such a remote and inhospitable location has sparked decades of speculation. Some early researchers proposed that the remains belonged to an army that had lost its way in the mountains, while others suggested they might have been traders following a trans-Himalayan route that had since vanished. A few archaeologists posited that they were pilgrims traveling to nearby shrines, possibly part of the ancient <em>Nanda Devi Raj Jat</em>, a religious procession spanning ~290 kilometers (~180 miles) that is still undertaken in the region every 12 years.</p>



<p>The identification of women and children among the dead, however, made some of the proposed explanations less plausible–especially the claim that they may have been members of an army. Without weapons, trade goods, or written records, no single theory could fully account for the diversity and composition of the group. Local folklore offered its own interpretation: a king, his family, and attendants on a pilgrimage to honor the mountain goddess Nanda Devi had violated sacred protocol and were struck down by a deadly hailstorm in divine retribution.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-exciting-23andme-connection"><strong>An exciting 23andMe connection</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31431628/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In 2019</a>, scientists sequenced the genomes of 38 individuals from Roopkund Lake in an effort to better understand the origins of the mysterious remains. But instead of resolving this longstanding mystery, their findings uncovered an even more complex puzzle. </p>



<p>So what makes this story one of 23andMe’s favorite archaeological mysteries? That 2019 research study was actually led by our very own Dr. Éadaoin Harney—a Scientist on the Population Genetics R&amp;D Team and 23andMe’s “resident ancient DNA expert.” She worked on this study during her PhD at Harvard University where she was a member of Prof. David Reich’s ancient DNA laboratories–one of the largest ancient DNA research laboratories in the world.</p>



<p>“<strong>When I first started working with the Roopkund ancient DNA data, I thought that genetics would be a simple and straightforward way to finally help solve the mystery of who they were</strong>,” said Dr. Harney. But she was in for a big surprise! “The first hint that this wasn’t going to be as simple as I initially thought was when we discovered how ancestrally diverse the Roopkund individuals were. Then we learned that they didn’t all die at the same time, as had previously been believed. Instead radiocarbon dates generated from the bones spanned over 1,000 years.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dna-adds-to-the-mystery"><strong>How DNA adds to the mystery</strong></h2>



<p>The 2019 genetic analysis showed that the individuals fell into three distinct genetic groups, with ancestries from across the globe.</p>



<p>The largest group (which we’ll refer to as Roopkund A) consisted of 23 individuals who died between the 7th and 10th centuries CE, likely during multiple distinct events. Genetically, all appeared South Asian, but with remarkably diverse ancestries–each individual appeared most closely related to different present-day South Asian populations. This finding suggests that they may have traveled to the lake from multiple locations across the subcontinent. Although the exact purpose of their journey to Roopkund Lake remains uncertain, some researchers speculate that they may have been early participants in the <em>Nanda Devi Raj Jat</em>, a traditional pilgrimage that still passes by the lake every 12 years.</p>



<p>The other two groups were even more surprising. One group (Roopkund B) consisted of 14 individuals whose DNA connected them to present-day populations from the eastern Mediterranean—particularly populations in Greece and neighboring regions. The third group (Roopkund C) was represented by a single individual with genetic ancestry most similar to Southeast Asian populations. Radiocarbon dating revealed that these individuals likely died in a single event some time between the 17th and 20th centuries. Why people with ancestry from such distant regions were traveling together in one of the most remote parts of the Himalayas remains a mystery to this day.</p>



<p>Dr. Harney joined 23andMe in 2020 with the goal of creating an approach to identify direct genetic connections between historical and living people. She and her colleagues on the Population Genetics R&amp;D Team succeeded! This technology was first described in their <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10958645/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 study of African Americans from Catoctin Furnace</a>, which was published in (and featured on the cover of) Science. She then helped spearhead the creation of the 23andMe Historical Matches feature, enabling customers to learn how they connect to different historical and ancient individuals.</p>



<p>Over the last five years, one of her secret ambitions was to use this technology to try and finally solve the mystery of the Roopkund individuals&#8217; identities. Could identifying any close genetic relatives of the Roopkund individuals in the 23andMe genetic database help us learn about their identities and answer what brought them to Roopkund?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-we-solve-the-mystery"><strong>Did we solve the mystery?</strong></h2>



<p>We compared the Roopkund individuals to over 11 million research consenting participants in the 23andMe genetic database. While we were hoping this analysis would reveal a number of close genetic relatives, unfortunately, the mystery of Roopkund Lake lives on.</p>



<p>We found that only about 1,240 research participants—less than 0.011% of the individuals included in our analysis—share any sort of genetic connection to the Roopkund individuals. And of those participants, we can count the number of individuals who share over 30 cM of DNA (what we label a “significant genetic connection” in the Historical Matches feature) on just one hand. In fact, we found so few &#8220;significant relatives” that the chances any of those connections trace back to a recent shared common ancestor on a genealogical family tree are extremely slim.</p>



<p><em>(Although if you happen to be one of those lucky individuals who sees a “significant connection” listed to one of the Roopkund individuals in your 23andMe report, please </em><a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/requests/new" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>reach out to us</em></a><em>, as we’d love to learn more!)</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-else-did-we-discover"><strong>What else did we discover?</strong></h2>



<p>So, we didn’t solve the mystery of who the Roopkund individuals were, but we did gather fascinating data about their connections to the present day.</p>



<p>First, here is a breakdown of the 17 Roopkund individuals whose DNA was well preserved enough to include in our analyses:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>8 from Roopkund A (South Asian ancestry)</li>



<li>8 from Roopkund B (Eastern Mediterranean ancestry)</li>



<li>1 from Roopkund C (Southeast Asian ancestry)</li>
</ul>



<p>As we mentioned, about 1,240 23andMe research participants shared a genetic connection to the Roopkund individuals. The figure below shows the number of matches each Roopkund group received and highlights the amount of DNA shared. As you can see, the vast majority of the connections we discovered involve less than 20 cM of DNA, meaning that they likely trace back to a shared common ancestor who lived long before any of the Roopkund individuals.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="411" height="252" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34359" style="width:625px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3.png 411w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-300x184.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This figure shows the distribution of total shared DNA that we detected between 23andMe research participants and each of the Roopkund groups (A, B and C). It shows that the vast majority of the connections we identified are to individuals in the Roopkund B group, and the DNA segments they share are shorter than 15 cM. In order to protect participant privacy, all counts <em> less than or equal to </em>5 are masked and appear equal to 5. </em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Of those who share a genetic connection, the majority (~1,160) shared a connection to one or more individuals in the Roopkund B group—the one with Eastern Mediterranean-related ancestry. This didn&#8217;t surprise us, since the majority of 23andMe research participants have European ancestry, making them more likely to be related to the Roopkund B individuals.</p>



<p>In addition to occurring more frequently, the Roopkund B individuals also shared some of the strongest genetic connections to 23andMe research participants, as shown in the figure below which depicts the maximum amount of DNA that each Roopkund individual shared with a research participant.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="643" height="448" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34360" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-4.png 643w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-4-300x209.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This figure shows the maximum amount of shared DNA that we detected between 23andMe research participants and each of the Roopkund individuals. The individuals are arranged along the x-axis by when they lived, as measured by radiocarbon dating. We masked this result for Roopkund individuals who shared DNA with 5 or fewer 23andMe research participants in order to protect participant privacy, and reported maximum DNA sharing as equal to 0.</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>We decided to see what Genetic Groups the Roopkund individuals could be connected to, using the same approach that we use to connect customers to these Genetic Groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Many of the Roopkund B individuals received matches to Genetic Groups in south eastern Europe, with the strongest connections to groups in Greece and Crete–exactly mirroring the findings of the original study!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="849" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-1024x849.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34352" style="width:575px" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-1024x849.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-300x249.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-768x636.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-880x729.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_b_2-1180x978.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This map shows the location of the different Genetic Groups that we compared the Roopkund B individuals to. Groups shown in darker colors shared the strongest genetic matches to one or more of the Roopkund B individuals.</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Since the Roopkund A and Roopkund C individuals shared far fewer genetic connections to 23andMe research participants, it was hard to localize their ancestry in the same way. But we were able to connect the Roopkund C individual to a single Genetic Group, located in China. This finding is generally consistent with the original study, where this individual exhibited connections to populations in East and Southeast Asia.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="874" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-1024x874.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34353" style="width:592px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-1024x874.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-300x256.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-768x655.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-880x751.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/roopkund_c_2-1180x1007.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This map shows the location of the different Genetic Groups that we compared the Roopkund C individual to. Groups shown in darker colors shared the strongest genetic matches to the Roopkund C individual.</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>We couldn’t connect the Roopkund A individuals to any of the Genetic Groups that we have identified. That doesn’t mean they aren’t genetically related to any of these groups. Instead it is likely just because the original research team was only able to sequence a small amount of DNA from these individuals, making it harder to connect them to research participants in the 23andMe database.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next"><strong>What’s Next?</strong></h2>



<p>So for now, all we can say is that the mystery of Roopkund Lake continues. But we promise this archaeological site is one that is close to our hearts. If we have any updates in the future, we’ll be sure to let you know.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more"><strong>Learn more</strong></h2>



<p>Want to see if you share a genetic connection with any of the individuals who died at Roopkund Lake—or hundreds of other historical people? The Historical Matches feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



<p>And if you are interested in finding ways to celebrate International Archaeology Day, check out organizations like the Archaeological Institute of America, which has an exciting <a href="https://www.archaeological.org/events/category/international-archaeology-day/list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calendar of Archaeology-related events</a>.</p>



<p></p>


New Historical Matches Could Connect You to the Mysterious Skeletons of Roopkund Lake


<p>Each year from September 15–October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of people from Spain, Latin America, and other Spanish-speaking communities. To mark the occasion, we’re highlighting a remarkable ancient DNA study from Las Gobas, a medieval site in northern Spain that sheds new light on life in early Iberia, which comprises present-day Spain and Portugal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-the-scene-iberia-in-the-early-medieval-period">Setting the Scene: Iberia in the Early Medieval Period</h2>



<p>From the 5th to 8th centuries CE, Iberia was ruled by the Visigoths, a Germanic people who established power after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In 711 CE, their kingdom collapsed after the Umayyads—an Islamic dynasty with roots in Arabia and North Africa—invaded and established the Emirate (and later the Caliphate) of Córdoba. This new state controlled much of Iberia, along with the Balearic Islands and parts of North Africa.</p>



<p>In the mountainous north, however, many communities retained their independence and Christian traditions, even as the rest of the Iberian peninsula underwent profound cultural and political change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-at-las-gobas">Life at Las Gobas</h2>



<p>Las Gobas, located in today’s province of Burgos in northern Spain, consists of 13 rock-cut caves and several freestanding structures. Beginning in the 7th century, it served as a mixed-use settlement with homes, a Christian church, and a cemetery. By the late 9th century, the residential area was abandoned, but the site continued to be used as a burial ground and place of worship until the 11th century.</p>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39196943/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In 2024</a>, researchers analyzed DNA from 33 individuals buried at Las Gobas. They discovered that the community’s ancestry remained surprisingly stable over the centuries, with little evidence of genetic influence from the Islamic expansion that reshaped much of Iberia.</p>



<p>Why was Las Gobas different? Their DNA offered a clue. Many individuals carried stretches of identical DNA inherited from both parents—patterns that often occur in small, insular populations with limited outside contact. This genetic isolation likely helped shield the community from broader population shifts happening elsewhere.</p>



<p>The study also revealed striking details about life at Las Gobas:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Inbreeding: </strong>The DNA of several individuals showed evidence that their parents were close relatives; likely first cousins or closer.</li>



<li><strong>Disease:</strong> DNA evidence showed infections from multiple pathogens, including what may be one of the earliest documented cases of smallpox in northern Iberia.</li>



<li><strong>Violence:</strong> Skeletal remains showed signs of traumatic injuries, likely from swords—evidence of interpersonal conflict or warfare.</li>
</ul>



<p>Taken together, the findings paint a vivid—and sometimes harsh—picture of life more than a thousand years ago in a small, tightly knit community in northern Spain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn more</h2>



<p>Want to see if you share a genetic connection with these newly added individuals from Las Gobas—or hundreds of other historical people? The <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



<p></p>


Historical Matches