The study conducted by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, along with an international team, has provided groundbreaking insights into the genetic composition and social organization of Avar-era populations in present-day Austria. This archaeogenetic study, which analyzed human remains from over 700 individuals dating back to the Early Middle Ages, sheds new light on how migration, cultural identity, and genetic heritage were intertwined in the 8th century CE.
Through the extensive analysis of two major burial sites—Mödling and Leobersdorf, located south of modern-day Vienna—researchers made an unexpected discovery. The individuals buried in Leobersdorf were predominantly of East Asian origin, while those in Mödling had ancestry mostly associated with European populations. The surprising aspect of this finding was not only the stark genetic differences between the two groups but also the fact that they lived alongside each other for at least six generations.
A Genetic Puzzle in Avar Society
The study was part of the European Research Council’s HistoGenes project, which seeks to integrate genetic, archaeological, and historical research to better understand medieval European populations. The Avars, a nomadic people from the East Asian steppes, had settled in East Central Europe by the 6th century CE, establishing a powerful realm that lasted for over two centuries. However, many questions about their societal structure and interactions with local populations remained unanswered.
Until this study, scholars debated whether the people buried at Avar-era sites were direct descendants of the original Avar conquerors, members of the existing European populations who had been absorbed into Avar society, or a fully mixed population that had intermarried over time. The genetic analysis of the 500 graves in Mödling and nearly 150 in Leobersdorf provided a clear answer—these two groups had distinct genetic backgrounds despite living in the same geographical region and sharing cultural practices.
According to Ke Wang, a geneticist and one of the lead authors of the study, the genetic contrast between the two communities was striking. “The genetic difference between these groups was very clear and consistent for most individuals at the sites,” he explains. This means that despite centuries of cohabitation, the populations of Mödling and Leobersdorf had not blended genetically as might have been expected.
Culture Over Genes: How the Avars Maintained Identity
Interestingly, before genetic analysis, no major differences between the two burial sites had been detected. The material culture, burial customs, and archaeological findings from both sites were strikingly similar. “The cultural integration apparently worked despite major genetic differences, and these people were obviously regarded as Avars,” says Walter Pohl, a historian at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and a senior author of the study.
This discovery challenges the conventional assumption that genetic heritage and cultural identity always go hand in hand. The people in both communities identified as Avars, despite their different ancestral origins. They followed similar burial practices, wore the same status symbols, and adhered to the same customs.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this study is how these communities maintained their distinct genetic backgrounds while avoiding inbreeding. The research team found no cases of close biological relationships, even among individuals who were distantly related. This suggests strict societal rules for choosing partners, ensuring that Avar populations preserved their distinct lineages.
According to Zuzana Hofmanová, a geneticist from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, the researchers were able to reconstruct six-generation-long pedigrees at both sites. This provided valuable insight into how these groups structured their societies and selected their partners.
A Complex Social System: Choosing Partners from Afar
The genetic evidence reveals an interesting pattern regarding marriage practices. The majority of mothers buried in these sites had no local ancestry, meaning they must have come from different regions. In Leobersdorf, the women were likely from other East Asian-descended Avar communities, possibly from the heart of the Avar realm. In contrast, the mothers in Mödling came from populations of European descent.
This suggests that both communities deliberately maintained their genetic identities through partner selection. “Both groups followed a similar practice in choosing partners from certain other communities, through which their different ancestry was preserved,” the researchers explain. Despite this separation, there was no difference in status or wealth between the two groups.
Archaeologist Bendeguz Tobias, one of the lead authors, emphasizes that both groups shared the same elite symbols and cultural markers. Artifacts such as belt fittings depicting griffins, a common motif in Avar culture, were found in both burial sites. This indicates that while they may have been genetically distinct, both groups considered themselves Avars.
A Society Without Violence
Another remarkable finding was the apparent peacefulness of this period. Historical sources often portray the Avars as warlike nomads, yet the skeletal remains tell a different story.
Anthropologist Doris Pany-Kucera, from the Natural History Museum Vienna, notes that no evidence of violent conflict was found among the buried individuals. “We find no battle injuries on the skeletons and there are hardly any signs of deficiencies,” she explains. This suggests that, despite their different ancestries, the two groups lived harmoniously side by side.
Additionally, weapons were only rarely placed in graves, further reinforcing the idea that this was a time of stability and coexistence rather than war and conquest.
New Frontiers in Archaeogenetics
Large-scale archaeogenetic studies like this one are still rare, but they have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of history. The Mödling site, in particular, is one of the largest burial grounds ever analyzed genetically, and its results will influence future research across multiple disciplines.
Johannes Krause, director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and a senior author of the study, highlights the significance of these findings: “Such results hold a lot of potential for future research in various disciplines.”
By combining genetics, archaeology, and historical analysis, studies like this provide a more nuanced understanding of the past—one that goes beyond simple narratives of conquest and assimilation. The Avar society, as revealed by this research, was far more complex than previously thought, with genetic diversity coexisting alongside a strong and unified cultural identity.
A Lasting Legacy
The findings from Mödling and Leobersdorf challenge traditional assumptions about how ancient societies functioned. While these two groups remained genetically distinct for generations, they lived together, shared the same customs, and identified as part of the same people.
This study highlights the power of archaeogenetics to uncover hidden aspects of human history. It demonstrates that cultural identity is not solely determined by genetics—people can belong to the same society and share the same traditions while having completely different ancestral origins.
As future studies continue to explore ancient DNA on a larger scale, we may discover even more examples of societies where culture and genetics followed separate paths. The case of the Avars serves as a remarkable example of peaceful coexistence and cultural integration, offering valuable lessons for understanding the complex nature of human history.
More information: Ke Wang et al, Ancient DNA reveals reproductive barrier despite shared Avar-period culture, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08418-5