biostudies-literatureSilva MEuropean Molecular Biology OrganizationFrancis Crick InstituteCancer Research UKEuropean Research CouncilMedical Research CouncilThe Francis Crick InstituteVallee FoundationWellcome Trust204-212.e6https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7617811biostudies-literatureUnknown34(1)In the second century CE the Roman Empire had increasing contact with Sarmatians, nomadic Iranian speakers occupying an area stretching from the Pontic-Caspian steppe to the Carpathian mountains, both in the Caucasus and in the Danubian borders of the empire.¹^,²^,³ In 175 CE, following their defeat in the Marcomannic Wars, emperor Marcus Aurelius drafted Sarmatian cavalry into Roman legions and deployed 5,500 Sarmatian soldiers to Britain, as recorded by contemporary historian Cassius Dio.⁴^,⁵ Little is known about where the Sarmatian cavalry were stationed, and no individuals connected with this historically attested event have been identified to date, leaving its impact on Britain largely unknown. Here Current biology : CBAn individual with Sarmatian-related ancestry in Roman Britain.PMC7617811852558CC2109217223FC001595217223/Z/19/ZWilliams MMontgomery JSkoglund PBowsher DSmith AHenderson MMoore JSilva MBarrington CAnastasiadou KWalker DBooth TGilardet AKelly MfalseAn individual with Sarmatian-related ancestry in Roman Britain.In the second century CE the Roman Empire had increasing contact with Sarmatians, nomadic Iranian speakers occupying an area stretching from the Pontic-Caspian steppe to the Carpathian mountains, both in the Caucasus and in the Danubian borders of the empire.¹^,²^,³ In 175 CE, following their defeat in the Marcomannic Wars, emperor Marcus Aurelius drafted Sarmatian cavalry into Roman legions and deployed 5,500 Sarmatian soldiers to Britain, as recorded by contemporary historian Cassius Dio.⁴^,⁵ Little is known about where the Sarmatian cavalry were stationed, and no individuals connected with this historically attested event have been identified to date, leaving its impact on Britain largely unknown. Here 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jan2026-06-01T15:52:26.319Z2026-04-08T13:50:24.461ZS-EPMC76178113811844810.1016/j.cub.2023.11.049