Indus Valley and Mesopotamia shared genetic links, DNA research suggests

Genetic research suggests that the relationship between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamian civilizations extended beyond trade to include a direct genetic connection between their populations. Professor Gyaneshwer Chaubey, a geneticist from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), presented these findings during a lecture at the National Forensic Sciences University in Varanasi.

While archaeological evidence such as Indus seals and Mesopotamian references to ‘Meluhha’ have long confirmed trade links, ancient DNA analysis provides new evidence of human movement. A collaborative research project with Polish scientists involved analyzing teeth from individuals found in Syria’s Middle Euphrates Valley, dating from approximately 2650 BCE to 700 CE.

The analysis identified South Asian mitochondrial haplogroups—specifically M4b1, M49, and M61—within the remains. These lineages are ancient to the Indian subcontinent and are found in India, Pakistan, and the Himalayan region, but are virtually absent in modern-day Syria. Researchers suggest these individuals may have been members of merchant families traveling along ancient trade routes.