DNA study uncovers Li Keyong's mixed ancestry and reconstructed face
A new DNA study and facial reconstruction have revealed the genetic origins of Li Keyong, a powerful military leader from the late Tang Dynasty. Researchers from Fudan University used archaeogenetics to uncover details about his ancestry and appearance. The team, based in Fudan University’s Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, analysed Li Keyong’s genetic makeup. Their findings show he had a nearly even split of ancestry: 53.4 percent ancient Northeast Asian and 46.6 percent Western Steppe. This suggests extensive biological mixing across the Eurasian steppe rather than a single ethnic background.
Li Keyong’s paternal lineage traced back to Western Eurasia, while his maternal roots lay in the Eastern Steppe. The study also reconstructed his likely appearance, indicating he had black or dark brown hair and intermediate-to-light skin, typical of modern Northeast or East Asian populations. The same research group had previously reconstructed Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Their latest work, published in the *Journal of Genetics and Genomics*, adds scientific evidence to the study of ethnic integration during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period.
The findings provide concrete insights into the genetic diversity of historical figures like Li Keyong. By combining DNA analysis with facial reconstruction, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of population movements and cultural exchanges in medieval China.
