Historical Genetics in Albania and Greece

While not entirely static, Albania has more continuity from the late Bronze Age to the present than the rest of the Balkans.

The history of the Albanian people has long been debated, as they first appear in historical records in the eleventh century CE and their language is not closely related to any surviving Indo-European branches. Here, to reconstruct their history, we analysed over 6,000 ancient West Eurasian genomes and 74 newly sequenced present-day ethnic Albanians. Using a range of population genetics methods, including an enhanced protocol to detect identity-by-descent segments between ancient and present-day individuals, we detect continuity of West Balkan Late Bronze and Iron Age ancestry in Early Medieval Albania, to a greater degree than in neighbouring Balkan regions. 

We find that present-day Albanians predominantly descend from this remnant palaeo-Balkan group, which by at least 800–900 CE already exhibited a genetic profile suggesting that they are ancestral to many modern Albanians. In addition, we observe geographically structured admixture with Medieval East European-related groups, averaging 10–20% across present-day Albanians. Our findings provide insight into the demographic processes shaping Albanian ancestry and help locate the origin area of the Albanian language.

Davranoglou, LR., Lauka, A., Aristodemou, A. et al. "Ancient DNA evidence for the history of the Albanians." Nat Hum Behav (May 4, 2026) (pay per view). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-026-02462-z

Most of Greece has a gradient of Slavic ancestry dating to the middle ages that is largest in the north and smallest in the south. The Deep Maniots in southern mainland Greece are an exception to the rule on the paternal side.

The Deep Maniots, an isolated population at the southernmost tip of mainland Greece, have drawn scholarly interest for their unique dialect, culture, and patrilineal clan structure. Geographically shielded by the Mani Peninsula, they are thought to have been minimally affected by 6th-century CE migrations that transformed Balkan demography. 

To investigate their genetic origins, we analysed Y-DNA and mtDNA from 102 Deep Maniots using next-generation sequencing. Paternally, Deep Maniots exhibit an exceptional prevalence (~80%) of West Asian haplogroup J-M172 (J2a), with subclade J-L930 accounting for ~50% of lineages. 

We identify Bronze Age Greek ancestry in Y-haplogroups nearly absent elsewhere, highlighting their longstanding genetic isolation. The absence of northeast European-related paternal lineages, common in other mainland Greeks, suggests preservation of southern Greece’s pre-Medieval genetic landscape. 

Y-haplogroup phylogeny reveals strong founder effects dated to ~380–670 CE, while the emergence of clan-based social structure is estimated around 1350 CE, centuries earlier than previously thought. 

In contrast, maternal lineages display greater heterogeneity, primarily originating from ancient Balkan, Levantine, and West Eurasian sources. These results align with historical and anthropological accounts, showcasing Deep Maniots as a genetic snapshot of pre-Medieval southern Greece, offering new perspectives on population continuity and mobility in the Late Antique eastern Mediterranean.

Davranoglou, LR., Kofinakos, A.P., Mariolis, A.D. et al. "Uniparental analysis of Deep Maniot Greeks reveals genetic continuity from the pre-Medieval era." 9 Commun Biol 157 (2026) (open access). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09597-9