At a glance
- When
- the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, with the kingdom of Urartu in about 860 to 590 BCE
- Where
- the Armenian Highland, in present-day Armenia and eastern Turkey
- Entries in our catalogue
- 438 (245 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 2
What ancient DNA shows
A 2016 study in the European Journal of Human Genetics found that present-day Armenians formed through the mixing of several ancient populations between about 3000 and 2000 BCE, and that signs of further mixing largely stop after about 1200 BCE, which suggests a long period of genetic continuity. Earlier communities of the Kura-Araxes culture carried mostly local ancestry related to Caucasus hunter-gatherers and farmers of the region.
A 2022 study in Science of the Southern Arc, from southeastern Europe to Iran, found that ancestry related to the Eurasian steppe reached the Armenian Highland in the Bronze Age, largely through male lineages, and discussed this as a possible route for the arrival of the Armenian language. Iron Age individuals from the time of Urartu largely resemble the Late Bronze Age population before them.
Their genetic legacy today
Present-day Armenians are genetically close to Bronze and Iron Age inhabitants of the Armenian Highland, one of the clearest cases of long term continuity in the Near East.
Ancient Armenians samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 438 entries whose culture label names the Ancient Armenians. 245 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 438 dated entries fall between 1,335 BCE and 740 BCE, with a median of 1,100 BCE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 424 |
| Türkiye | 14 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Lchashen-Metsamor (Late Bronze Age) (Armenia) | 109 |
| Iron Age (Armenia) | 66 |
| Ancient Armenian Kingdoms (Orontid-Artaxiad-Arsacid) (Armenia) | 64 |
| Urartian / Kingdom Of Van (Iron Age) (Armenia) | 58 |
| Kura-Araxes Culture (Armenia) | 28 |
| Medieval Armenian (Armenia) | 10 |
Measured from the live catalogue on 2026-10-17. Dates are those recorded for each entry; the archaeological dates of the culture are given above. See our data sources for where the samples come from.
Compare your DNA with the Ancient Armenians
To see how close you sit to Ancient Armenians samples, you need your DNA as G25 coordinates. Download your raw data file from your testing company, convert it, and MYDNATLAS compares your coordinates with these entries and the rest of the catalogue, period by period, in its closest population and mixture tools.
- Download your raw DNA file: step by step for each testing company.
- Upload it from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or FamilyTreeDNA, or another supported provider.
- Explore the results with the period by period breakdown and closest populations.
Start free: browse the Population Encyclopedia. The Population Encyclopedia is free to browse with a free account; analysing your own DNA needs a paid plan.
Questions
How many Ancient Armenians samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 438 entries labelled as Ancient Armenians, of which 245 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Ancient Armenians samples found?
They come from 2 countries, most often Armenia and Türkiye. Half of the dated entries fall between 1,335 BCE and 740 BCE.
Are modern Armenians descended from the people of Urartu?
Ancient DNA shows strong continuity: present-day Armenians resemble people who lived in the Armenian Highland in the Bronze and Iron Ages, including the Urartian period, even though the Urartians spoke a different language.