At a glance
- When
- the Bronze Age, about 2300 to 1600 BCE
- Where
- Margiana and Bactria, in present-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan
- Entries in our catalogue
- 71 (49 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 3
What ancient DNA shows
A 2019 study in Science found that most BMAC individuals descended largely from earlier farmers of the Iranian Plateau, with smaller shares of ancestry related to Anatolian farmers and to West Siberian hunter-gatherers. Steppe ancestry was absent at first and appears in the region in the early second millennium BCE.
The same study found a few outliers at Gonur and Shahr-i-Sokhta who carried ancestry similar to that of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which it interpreted as evidence of migrants from South Asia. It also found that BMAC ancestry contributed little to later South Asians compared with the Indus related and steppe sources.
Their genetic legacy today
BMAC-related ancestry contributed to later populations of Central Asia, and Iranian Plateau related ancestry of this kind is still present among Tajiks and other peoples of the region.
Bactria-Margiana (BMAC) samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 71 entries whose culture label names the Bactria-Margiana (BMAC). 49 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 71 dated entries fall between 2,000 BCE and 1,700 BCE, with a median of 1,925 BCE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Turkmenistan | 38 |
| Uzbekistan | 32 |
| Tajikistan | 1 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| BMAC / Oxus (Turkmenistan) | 31 |
| Bronze Age Turkmenistan (Margiana) | 29 |
| BMAC / Oxus (Uzbekistan) | 3 |
| Bronze Age Bactria (BMAC) | 2 |
| Bronze Age Gonur (Turkmenistan) | 2 |
| BMAC / Oxus (Tajikistan) | 1 |
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 Bactria-Margiana (BMAC)
To see how close you sit to Bactria-Margiana (BMAC) 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 Bactria-Margiana (BMAC) samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 71 entries labelled as Bactria-Margiana (BMAC), of which 49 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Bactria-Margiana (BMAC) samples found?
They come from 3 countries, most often Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Half of the dated entries fall between 2,000 BCE and 1,700 BCE.
Did the BMAC people bring steppe ancestry to South Asia?
Ancient DNA says no. BMAC people had little steppe ancestry before the second millennium BCE, and the steppe ancestry found in South Asia came from Middle to Late Bronze Age herders who passed through the region later.