Archaeogenetic analysis of Neolithic sheep from Anatolia suggests a complex demographic history since domestication

Sheep was among the first domesticated animals, but its demographic history is little understood. Here we present a combined analyses of mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide polymorphism data from ancient central and west Anatolian sheep dating to the early Holocene. First, we observe strong loss of mitochondrial haplotype diversity around 7500 BCE during the early Neolithic, consistent with a domestication-related bottleneck. Post-7000 BCE, mitochondrial haplogroup diversity increases, compatible with admixture from other domestication centers and/or from wild populations. Analysing archaeogenomic data, we further find that Anatolian Neolithic sheep (ANS) are genetically closest to present-day European breeds, and especially those from central and north Europe. Our analysis revealed that Asian contribution to south European breeds, possibly during the Bronze Age, could partly explain this pattern.