Researchers uncover the origins of the Sogdians, mysterious merchants of the Silk Road

In a recent study on the historical and genetic legacy of the Sogdians, some of the major components in the lives of these ancient merchants, who were part of the crucial East-West nexus on the Silk Road, have been sтιтched together. Conducted through archaeological, historical, and genomic perspectives, the present study discusses the origin of the Sogdians, their migration patterns, and cultural ᴀssimilation, thereby underlining their contribution to long-lasting trade and cultural exchange.

Researchers uncover the origins of the Sogdians, mysterious merchants of the Silk RoadMedieval painting showing Sogdian merchants. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

The Sogdians were an Eastern Iranian-speaking people originally from Sogdiana, or modern-day Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Traders, artisans, and cultural brokers, their influence peaked during the Tang Dynasty, or roughly from 618 to 907 CE, described as the “Golden Age” of the Silk Road. But until recently, very little has been known about their origins and interaction with other populations.

A breakthrough in understanding the Sogdians came from the analysis of two skeletons excavated from a Tang Dynasty tomb, M1401, in Guyuan, northwest China. The tomb was excavated by the Ningxia Insтιтute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in 2014 to prevent looting; its treasures included frescoes, figurines, coins, and glᴀss beads. This finding demonstrated that it was a Sogdian family that had lived there.

The man and woman interred in the tomb were subjected to genetic and morphological analyses, revealing surprising results. According to the researchers, SUTE1 had mixed ancestry, including local and genetic components from the so-called Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC), which expressed a Central Asian component. On the other hand, SUTE2 proved much closer to the local population in China’s Yellow River region, providing yet another piece of evidence for intermarriage and further cultural ᴀssimilation.

Researchers uncover the origins of the Sogdians, mysterious merchants of the Silk RoadThe extent of the Persian Achaemenid Empire and the location of Sogdiana. Credit: Fabienkhan, CC BY-SA 2.5

This genetic duality found in the tomb reflects a broader history of the integration of Sogdians into local societies. Historical Chinese records refer to the arrival in China of Sogdian families during both the Wei Jin and Sui Tang dynasties. The Sogdians married into local populations and established thriving communities in various important cities, including Chang’an (modern Xi’an), which stimulated trade and cultural interaction.

The architecture of the tomb and the funerary objects inside it provide further illustrations of the Sogdians combining various cultural influences. The artifacts recovered from M1401 highlight the synthesis of Sogdian and Tang Dynasty traditions, illustrating how the Silk Road served as a crucible for cultural and genetic exchange.

Researchers uncover the origins of the Sogdians, mysterious merchants of the Silk RoadSogdians on an Achaemenid Persian relief from the Apadana of Persepolis, Iran, offering tributary gifts to the Persian king Darius I, 5th century BCE. Credit: A.Davey, CC BY 2.0

Sogdiana, lying between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, was able to develop as a very rich and strategic area, which helped it rise to become a center of trade and culture. For many centuries, Sogdiana was conquered by various empires, including the Achaemenid Empire, Alexander the Great, and the Kushan Empire. It is from this privileged position that the Sogdian merchants took advantage and acted as intermediaries in the exchange of goods, ideas, and art between China, Persia, and the Mediterranean world.

More information: Zhang, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, N., Li, J., Qu, Y., Zhu, C., … Ning, C. (2025). Unraveling the origins of the sogdians: Evidence of genetic admixture between ancient central and East Asians. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 61(104957), 104957. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104957

Related Posts

Ancient DNA reveals rare leprosy strain in the Americas thousands of years before European contact

Ancient DNA reveals rare leprosy strain in the Americas thousands of years before European contact

In a discovery that overturns old suppositions about the origin of leprosy, researchers have recovered two extremely well-preserved genomes of Mycobacterium lepromatosis—a rare and severe form of…

Early humans used ochre for advanced toolmaking at Blombos Cave, study finds

Early humans used ochre for advanced toolmaking at Blombos Cave, study finds

A recent study led by researchers at SapienCE has revealed that ochre—previously considered primarily a symbolic pigment—played a crucial role in the production of sophisticated stone tools…

Intact 7th century Etruscan tomb discovered in San Giuliano necropolis near Rome

Intact 7th century Etruscan tomb discovered in San Giuliano necropolis near Rome

An astonishing archaeological discovery has been made in the San Giuliano Necropolis, located in the Marturanum Regional Park near Barbarano Romano, central Italy. The Baylor University team,…

British archaeologists uncover lost Egyptian city of Imet with rare tower houses and temple to cobra goddess Wadjet

British archaeologists uncover lost Egyptian city of Imet with rare tower houses and temple to cobra goddess Wadjet

Archaeologists from the University of Manchester and the University of Sadat City, Egypt, uncovered the ancient Egyptian city of Imet, buried under Tell el-Fara’in—also known as Tell…

DNA reveals female-centered society in 9,000-year-old Neolithic city of Çatalhöyük

DNA reveals female-centered society in 9,000-year-old Neolithic city of Çatalhöyük

Recent genetic research has shed light on the social structure of Çatalhöyük, a large Neolithic settlement in the center of Turkey that flourished over 9,000 years ago….

Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier

Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier

Archaeologists in South Moravia in the Czech Republic uncovered a rare Roman military discovery—a fragment of a bronze wrist purse that is the oldest such discovery ever…