Demographic changes during four millennia of Iberian biomolecular prehistory

Population genomic studies of Ancient human remains have shown how modern-day European population structure has been shaped by a number of prehistoric migrations. The Neolithization of Europe has been associated with large-scale migrations from Anatolia, which was followed by migrations of herders from the Pontic steppe at onset of the Bronze Age. South-western Europe was one of the last parts of the continent reached by these migrations and modern-day populations from this region show intriguing similarities to the initial Neolithic migrants. Partly due to climatic conditions, unfavourable for DNA preservation, regional studies on the Mediterranean remain challenging. Here, we present genome-wide sequence data from 13 individuals combined with stable isotope analysis from the north and south of Iberia covering a four-millennial temporal transect (7,500-3,500 BP). Early Iberian farmers and Early Central European farmers exhibit a significant genetic differentiation, suggesting two independent fronts of the Neolithic expansion. The first Neolithic migrants that arrived to Iberia had low levels of genetic diversity – potentially reflecting a small number of individuals – diversity that gradually increased over time from mixing with local hunter-gatherers and potential population expansion. The impact of post-Neolithic migrations on Iberia was much smaller than for the rest of the continent, showing little external influence from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Palaeodietary reconstruction shows that these populations have a remarkable degree of dietary homogeneity across space and time, suggesting a strong reliance on terrestrial food resources despite changing culture and genetic make-up.