New DNA Analysis Reveals Hidden Migration Patterns in Early Medieval Europe

Researchers developed the Twigstats method to uncover subtle genetic shifts, reshaping understanding of population movements from the Iron Age to the Viking Age.

A groundbreaking DNA analysis tool, Twigstats, has revealed detailed migration patterns across Europe during the first millennium AD.
Researchers identified three major migration waves, including Germanic-speaking groups moving south and later returning north to Scandinavia before the Viking Age.
Evidence shows Scandinavian ancestry in Britain as early as the 2nd-4th centuries, predating the Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions.
Viking Age genetic data confirms historical accounts of Scandinavian expansion, with individuals in Britain, Ukraine, and Russia showing mixed local and Nordic ancestry.
The study highlights the potential of Twigstats to refine historical narratives and address long-standing questions about ancient human migrations.