HYDERABAD, INDIA—By studying the genomes of hundreds of South Asians, Harvard geneticist David Reich and his colleagues and have discovered that two different ancient populations, from north and south, began to mix some 4,200 years ago. "From genetic data, remarkably, you see this picture emerging of cultural change,” says Reich. But around 2,000 years ago, the large scale mixing of DNA abruptly stopped, probably because of the introduction of the caste system, which restricts marriage outside of strictly defined groups. Reich is now interested in studying the modern-day health implications of this ancient event, which has resulted in genetically isolated groups.
2,000-Year-Old Roots of India's Caste System
News August 12, 2013
Recommended Articles
Digs & Discoveries May/June 2024
Educational Idols
![](https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MJ24-DD-India-Jain-Idol-HEADER.jpg)
Digs & Discoveries September/October 2023
The Elephant and the Buddha
![](https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DD-India-Buddha-Elephant.jpg)
(Courtesy Anil Dhir)
![](https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Water-Mughal-Nagaur-Citadel-Pool.jpg)
(AB Historic/ Alamy Stock Photo)
Digs & Discoveries January/February 2022
Tamil Royal Palace
![](https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/JF22-Digs-India-Tamil-Palace.jpg)
(Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department)
-
Artifacts July/August 2013
Sundial
A 13th-century limestone sundial is one of the earliest timekeeping devices discovered in Egypt
(Courtesy University of Basel, Egyptology) -
Around the World July/August 2013
JAPAN
(Courtesy Tokamachi City Museum) -
Digs & Discoveries July/August 2013
Not Quite Ancient
(Photo: Georgia Museum of Art,courtesy of the University of Mississippi Museum) -
Features July/August 2013
The First Vikings
Two remarkable ships may show that the Viking storm was brewing long before their assault on England and the continent
(Courtesy Liina Maldre, University of Tallinn)