🐎 European Huns linked to Xiongnu elites

Ancient DNA connects some 5th–6th century people in the Carpathian Basin to late Xiongnu elite lineages through long shared DNA segments, pointing to direct descent across Eurasia. The dataset covers 370 ancient genomes, including 10 Hun-period “eastern-type” burials.

Despite these elite ties, only about 6% of individuals from 4th–6th century contexts in the region show East Asian or steppe admixture, so there was no large steppe-descended community on the ground. Admixture dates and DNA sharing suggest a ~500-year gap between Xiongnu ancestors and Hun-period descendants, consistent with mixed origins and ongoing local blending in Europe.

Takeaway: Some European Huns carried elite Xiongnu ancestry, but the Carpathian Basin population was diverse and mostly local, with only limited East Asian–steppe input.

Source: Gnecchi-Ruscone et al., 2025. Ancient genomes reveal trans-Eurasian connections between the European Huns and the Xiongnu Empire.