Reconstruction of elements of the ethnic past of the kryashens based on natural science data

The Volga Tatars are divided into three subpopulations: the Kazan Tatars, the Mishars, and the Kryashens. The Kazan Tatars and Mishars are Muslims, the Kryashens are Christians (Kryashens = baptized). The article examines scientific data (anthropological parameters, frequencies of Y-chromosome haplogroups, mtDNA, and HLA class II genes) characterizing the Volga Tatars and other Eurasian populations. During the main phase of their formation (1550–1560s), the Kryashens separated from the Kazan Tatars and Mishars. Later, a limited number of newly baptized people were included among them. The Volga Tatars have 4.0% carriers of Mongolian Y-chromosome haplogroups (C2, D and O) and 13.2% of Siberian haplogroups (Q1a, Q1b, lines of haplogroup N1a), as well as 16.5% of East Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups (A, D, C and D). They have not been identified among the Kryashens. According to Y-chromosome haplogroups, two ethnic components of the Kryashens have been identified: Russians (37.5%) and Nogais (62.5%). They are significantly represented among the Kazan Tatars and Mishars. The Kazan Tatars and one of the Mishar groups have anthropological features of Mongoloidity. Taking into account the data of population genetics, these same features in a small number of Kryashens are a manifestation of sub-Laponoidity. The genetic portrait of the Kryashens, as a first approximation, characterizes the populations of the Kazan Khanate as of the mid-16th century. They did not have anthropological features of Mongoloidity, Mongolian Y-chromosome haplogroups, and East Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups. The Kazan Tatars and Mishars received them from the Kalmyks, who came to the Northern Caspian region in the first half of the 17th century. They did not have anthropological signs of Mongoloidity, Mongolian and Siberian Y-chromosome haplogroups, as well as East Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups. A hypothesis has been formed about the first stage of the ethnogenesis of the Kryashens: their basis was made up of Russians who ended up in the Kazan Khanate as captives.