Social Stratification Without Genetic Differentiation at the Xisima Site in the Late Shang Dynasty

Ancient DNA and archaeological studies indicate the Central Plain's pivotal role in the cultural and genetic evolution of ancient China. However, limited genome-wide data have constrained our understanding of this region's population history during the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty (around 1600 to 1046 BCE). Here, we present genome-wide data from 11 individuals from the Xisima Cemetery in Central Plain, a site exhibiting clear burial evidence of social stratification dating to the Late Shang Dynasty (around 1300 to 1046 BCE). Genetic analyses reveal that all Xisima individuals can be modeled as direct, unadmixed descendants of Late Neolithic Central Plain-related people. We found no systematic genetic differentiation between individuals buried in high-grade (south-to-north) and low-grade (east-to-west) tombs, indicating genetic homogeneity across social strata. These results demonstrate that social stratification at Xisima occurred without corresponding genetic distinction, supporting the decoupling of social hierarchy from significant genetic differentiation in this Shang community.

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Publication Details

Journal
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Published
2025-11-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf316
Primary Topic
Forensic and Genetic Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Social Stratification Without Genetic Differentiation at the Xisima Site in the Late Shang Dynasty

Jiaxin Tang, Yi Guo, Chuan-Chao Wang, Xiaomin Yang et al.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Forensic and Genetic Research
article

Social Stratification Without Genetic Differentiation at the Xisima Site in the Late Shang Dynasty

Jiaxin Tang, Yi Guo, Chuan-Chao Wang, Xiaomin Yang, Chen Deng, Qiaoyan Zhang, Qingli Wei, Qian Wu, Xinyi Wang, Rui Wang, Hao Ma, Haifeng He, Le Tao, Xiaolu Mao, Xinyue Zou
article en

Abstract

Ancient DNA and archaeological studies indicate the Central Plain's pivotal role in the cultural and genetic evolution of ancient China. However, limited genome-wide data have constrained our understanding of this region's population history during the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty (around 1600 to 1046 BCE). Here, we present genome-wide data from 11 individuals from the Xisima Cemetery in Central Plain, a site exhibiting clear burial evidence of social stratification dating to the Late Shang Dynasty (around 1300 to 1046 BCE). Genetic analyses reveal that all Xisima individuals can be modeled as direct, unadmixed descendants of Late Neolithic Central Plain-related people. We found no systematic genetic differentiation between individuals buried in high-grade (south-to-north) and low-grade (east-to-west) tombs, indicating genetic homogeneity across social strata. These results demonstrate that social stratification at Xisima occurred without corresponding genetic distinction, supporting the decoupling of social hierarchy from significant genetic differentiation in this Shang community.

Molecular Biology and EvolutionVol. 43(1)
Xiamen University (CN), Fudan University (CN), Institute of Forensic Science (CN), Institute of Archaeology (CN), Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology (CN), Department of Archaeology (LK), Zhejiang University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, Xiamen University, Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Social Science Fund of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 61%
Forensic and Genetic Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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