Ancient Genomes Illuminate the Demographic History of Southwest China

Southwest China, at the crossroads of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Tibetan Plateau, is pivotal for understanding human migration and population history. Recent ancient DNA (aDNA) studies, integrated with archaeological, ethnological, and linguistic evidence, reveal deep diversity among Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, shaped by both divergence and long-distance exchange. With the advent of agriculture, interactions between Yellow River farmers and local foragers produced varied outcomes, ranging from replacement to admixture across subregions. In the historical period, intensified gene flow from multiple parts of East Asia further transformed the region, contributing to today’s extraordinary ethnolinguistic diversity. Despite progress, major challenges remain, including limited samples, poor DNA preservation in subtropical settings, and uneven spatiotemporal coverage. Expanding genomic datasets and strengthening interdisciplinary integration will be critical to reconstructing a comprehensive picture of demographic and cultural evolution in this key region.

Keywords: Southwest China, Ancient DNA, Hunter-gatherers, Agricultural Transition, Historical Period.