In a groundbreaking discovery that reshapes our understanding of India's ancient past, a major genetic study has delivered powerful evidence against the long-contested Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT). The research reveals that the maternal ancestry of Gujarat's population is overwhelmingly indigenous, with roots stretching back over 40,000 years to the Pleistocene era.
Study Details and Key Findings
The research, published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, was co-led by scientists from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, and the National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar. A global team of 16 scientists from nine institutions analyzed 168 complete mitochondrial genomes from Gujarati individuals, along with 529 additional sequences from across Eurasia and South Asia.
The findings are striking. The analysis shows that 76% of maternal lineages are specific to South Asia. Contributions from East Eurasia were a mere 0.6%, while those from West Eurasia accounted for 21%. Crucially, of this West Eurasian component, only 19% entered the region in the last 5,000 years—a period often linked to proposed Steppe migrations. A significant 81% predates this era.
"This study fundamentally undermines the Aryan Invasion Theory by showing no evidence of significant maternal gene flow or demographic upheaval during the alleged Indo-Aryan period," stated lead author Shailesh Desai from BHU.
No Evidence of Invasion or Replacement
The Aryan Invasion Theory, popularized in the 19th century, proposed that Indo-European speakers from the Eurasian Steppe invaded or migrated en masse into the Indian subcontinent around 3,500–4,000 years ago. This was thought to have brought languages, culture, and genes that shaped modern South Asia.
This new research directly challenges that narrative on the maternal front. "Instead of a massive invasion overwriting indigenous populations as we see in Europe, our data points to small, staggered waves of gene flow over tens of thousands of years," explained Desai. "Gujarat's maternal genetics reflect an enduring indigenous foundation, not conquest or replacement."
Extensive statistical analyses indicated a robust population expansion around 40,000 to 45,000 years ago, with no major disruptions during key historical periods like the Last Glacial Maximum, the Neolithic transition, or the proposed Indo-Aryan migrations. "We observed no substantive maternal demographic perturbations coinciding with these milestones," noted lead senior author Bhargav Patel from the National Forensic Sciences University.
Ancient Connections and Stable Core
The study's phylogeographic analyses traced West Eurasian haplogroups (like H, HV, T, W, and U) to multiple, low-frequency entries from the Near East, Europe, and Central Asia, many of which predate the Holocene. For instance, haplogroup H2b, previously linked to Indo-Aryan movements, coalesces around 6,200 years ago and shows a broad distribution inconsistent with a single invasion.
The research also highlights bidirectional gene flow. "India not only received but also exported maternal lineages to West Eurasia. This paints a picture of subtle interactions, not domination," added lead senior author Prof. Gyaneshwer Chaubey from BHU.
The maternal genetic pool of Gujarat is dominated by South Asian-specific haplogroups: M (48.21%), R (28.56%), and U (13.69%). These deeply rooted, endemic lineages affirm in-situ diversification with minimal external influence, underscoring Gujarat's role as a Pleistocene gateway for early human migrations into India. The study concludes that the region's core maternal heritage has remained remarkably stable for tens of thousands of years.
