Tracing Ancient Populations Through DNA

Understanding how ancient human populations moved, lived, and interacted is one of the central questions of anthropology. For researchers working with human remains, this task comes with unique challenges: the materials are fragile, irreplaceable, and protected as cultural heritage. Gaining new knowledge must therefore go hand in hand with careful preservation.

At the Museo e Istituto Fiorentino di Preistoria, Pier Francesco Fabbri, Director of the Anthropology Laboratory, leads research that spans a vast chronological range—from the Palaeolithic to Protohistory. His work focuses on the study of human remains recovered from archaeological excavations, primarily bones and teeth, which provide rare windows into the lives of past populations.

In recent years, Fabbri’s research has turned toward the southern Caucasus, particularly present-day Armenia and Georgia, during the Copper Age and the Bronze Age. This region represents a historical crossroads between the Eastern European steppes, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Iranian plateau—making it crucial for understanding large-scale population movements in prehistory.

Studying such remains, however, is far from straightforward. In some cases, a skeleton may be the only known human evidence from a specific period and region. Beyond their scientific value, these remains are subject to strict legal frameworks and growing ethical considerations, including the respect owed to individuals who were once people like ourselves.

This is why non-invasive and minimally destructive techniques are central to Fabbri’s approach. Advances in analytical methods over recent decades have transformed what is possible: remains once considered too poorly preserved to study can now yield valuable information—provided they are handled with care.

“All the human remains we study are unique. Each represents a single individual, and their conservation must always come first” – says Pier Francesco Fabbri. 

Through the IM@IT Programme, Fabbri gained access to facilities that enable the study of ancient DNA while minimizing impact on the integrity of archaeological material. Using DNA sequencing and analysis, his team can now reconstruct population origins, trace migration patterns, and explore relationships between ancient communities.

Beyond broad population history, the data can also reveal post-marital residence patterns and paleopathological information, as the DNA of pathogenic microorganisms is sometimes preserved alongside human DNA.

“The current Caucasus project – Fabbri explains – would not have the same scientific impact without access to ancient DNA analysis. Combining archaeological context with genetic evidence allows researchers to build a much more detailed and accurate picture of how this pivotal region was inhabited and how its populations changed over time.”

Among the results achieved through projects with ISIS@MACH ITALIA is the research on ancient DNA from the Bronze Age of the southern Caucasus. The team has already extracted and analyzed approximately fifty genomes from the region. Preservation has proven to be generally excellent, supporting expectations of highly significant results. A poster presenting the project was showcased at the 2025 AAI (Italian Anthropological Association) conference in Cagliari, where it received the award for best poster. The research will also be presented at the 2026 EAA (European Archaeological Association) Annual Meeting in Athens.

Carrying out this kind of research, however, requires more than scientific questions and archaeological material — it also depends on access to the right expertise, infrastructure and long-term support.

This is where ISIS@MACH ITALIA’s role extends well beyond providing access to laboratory facilities. For researchers working outside physics or chemistry, navigating advanced infrastructures can be challenging. Technical guidance and scientific support throughout the research process help bridge this gap, making complex methodologies accessible to anthropologists and archaeologists.

Fabbri also highlights a practical but crucial aspect of the collaboration: funding. 

“Archaeology and anthropology rarely receive substantial funding. Being able to use so many advanced laboratories at no cost is an extremely rare opportunity that significantly expands what can be achieved”, says Pier Francesco Fabbri.

He describes the collaboration with ISIS@MACH ITALIA as both scientifically meaningful and highly productive, enabling research that would otherwise be difficult to carry out within the constraints of archaeology and anthropology. Access to advanced facilities, combined with technical guidance and long-term support, has already allowed his team to address key questions about prehistoric population dynamics.

Looking ahead, Fabbri and his team plan to continue using ISIS@MACH ITALIA facilities for future projects, both in the Caucasus and in Italy, to explore new datasets and investigate further aspects of ancient human history. As new questions emerge, access to ancient DNA analysis and related infrastructures will remain central to advancing their research.

By supporting projects like this, ISIS@MACH ITALIA enables long-term, interdisciplinary research that bridges archaeology, anthropology and advanced scientific techniques. The collaboration helps researchers unlock stories written in ancient bones and teeth — deepening our understanding of human history while ensuring that the people who lived it are treated with care, respect and scientific responsibility.