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A genetic study of the Raute ethnic group, the last hunter-gatherers of the Himalayas, has revealed their unique demographic history. The scientists found that around 1500 to 1100 years ago, the effective population size of the Raute's ancestors declined sharply from 2500 individuals to around 100, followed by a long period of consistently low numbers. The results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shed light on the demographic challenges and genetic heritage of this group.
The Raute, who now live in the Karnali region of northwestern Nepal, lead a nomadic lifestyle, gathering and hunting monkeys and trading wood products for basic resources. They number just 140 people and are characterized by strict endogamy—marriages between close relatives that have made genetic analysis difficult. According to the study, the Raute's ancestral population remained stable for about 50 generations before the sharp decline.
Using the program GONE, which models the demographic history over the past 100 generations, the researchers reconstructed the dynamics of the raute population. They found that the decline in population occurred over a short period (approximately 10 generations), likely due to social or environmental factors.
Genetic analysis has also shown that the Raute are not isolated descendants of local hunter-gatherers. Their gene pool shares traits with neighboring populations, including those that have been farming for thousands of years. This suggests that the Raute are likely the result of a long-term interbreeding between the arriving farmers and local hunter-gatherers. The idea that the Raute ancestors might have deliberately abandoned agriculture in favor of traditional hunting and gathering seems unlikely.
The study not only provides insight into the history of the Raute ethnic group, but also illustrates the complex processes that influenced populations in the Himalayas. The results highlight the importance of integrating genetic and cultural data to understand the history of small, isolated communities.
