A new study has uncovered a direct genetic link between ancient practitioners of the Hanging Coffin burial tradition and the modern Bo people in Southwest China. The findings published in Nature Communications offer unprecedented insight into the deep ancestral origins and migratory history associated with this unique mortuary practice.

The Hanging Coffin practice, characterized by the placement of wooden coffins on cliffs or in caves, has historically been ascribed to the Bo ethnic group, which is believed to have disappeared after the Ming Dynasty.

Through a comparative genomic analysis of 11 ancient individuals from four Hanging Coffin sites in China, four from Log Coffin sites in Thailand, as well as 30 whole genomes from the contemporary Bo population, Prof. Zhang Xiaoming from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, found that contemporary Bo individuals exhibit a considerable degree of genetic inheritance from ancient Hanging Coffin communities.

These ancient communities, in turn, shared intimate genetic connections with coastal Neolithic populations in southern East Asia. These populations are the progenitors of modern Tai–Kadai and Austronesian language speakers.

The researchers also discovered an unanticipated level of genetic diversity among Hanging Coffin individuals. Two ancient specimens from Yunnan's Wa Shi site (approximately 1,200 years old) displayed distinct genetic affinities: one with Yellow River agriculturalists and Tibetan-related groups, and the other with ancient Northeast Asian populations. This implies long-distance interactions and cultural inclusiveness during the Tang Dynasty.

Ancestry composition and inferred dispersal scenarios of Hanging Coffin populations and Bo individuals. Credit: Zhang Xiaoming

Geographic context and principal component analysis. Credit: Zhang Xiaoming

Genetic continuity has also been observed between Hanging Coffin groups in China and Log Coffin populations in Thailand, lending support to the hypothesis of a common origin and a more extensive cultural network spanning southern China and Southeast Asia. However, regional disparities in genetic ancestry highlight intricate demographic processes, including localized admixture with Hoabinhian-related groups in Thailand.

Together, these results suggest that genomic evidence can serve as a valuable complement to archaeological and historical records, thereby shedding light on the tenacity of cultural traditions and the genetic history of marginalized communities.

The study underscores the importance of integrative methodologies for understanding human migration, cultural dissemination, and population dynamics in prehistoric and historic East Asia.

Edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan