Ancient DNA Rewrites Tarim Mummies' Origins: Local Xinjiang Inhabitants, Not European Travelers
Genome analysis of Tarim Basin mummies (ca. 2100–1700 BC) shows they were a long-isolated local population in western China, with about 72% Ancient North Eurasian and 28% Northeast Asian ancestry, overturning the idea that Western-looking features indicated European origins. Some individuals nearby carried Afanasievo ancestry, but the broader group remained distinct; their culture was cosmopolitan (dairy from West Asia, millet from East Asia, ephedra) and linked to later Tocharian writing, illustrating that appearance is not a reliable indicator of origin.