Longshan Centralization Made the Han

Ancient‑DNA from Han‑period Shandong and other regions shows that a genetically diverse Late Neolithic Yellow‑River world consolidated into a Central‑Plain–derived ancestry by ~100–200 BCE, producing much of the northern Han genetic foundation. The study links archaeological Longshan cultural networks to a demographic expansion that explains regional homogenization and long‑term continuity into modern Han populations. — This reframes debates about Chinese ethnic and historical continuity: genetic consolidation during state formation can be marshalled in contemporary discussions about identity, migration, and the deep roots of the Han majority.