2026-06-17T23:44:13Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/113022026-01-30T10:56:26Zcom_10259.4_2551com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259.4_2552

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Günther, Torsten author Chisausky, Jacob author Galindo-Pellicena, Ángeles M author Iriarte Avilés, Eneko author Cortes Gardyn, Oscar author Eusebi, Paulina G author García González, Rebeca author Ureña, Irene author Moreno-García, Marta author Alday, Alfonso . author Rojo, Manuel author Pérez Romero, Amalia author Tejedor Rodríguez, Cristina author García Martínez de Lagrán, Inigo . author Arsuaga, Juan Luis author Carretero Díaz, José Miguel author Götherström, Anders author Smith, Colin Ian author Valdiosera Morales, Cristina Eugenia author 2025-03 Cattle (Bos taurus) play an important role in the life of humans in the Iberian Peninsula not just as a food source but also in cultural events. When domestic cattle were first introduced to Iberia, wild aurochs (Bos primigenius) were still present, leaving ample opportunity for mating (whether intended by farmers or not). Using a temporal bioarchaeological dataset covering eight millennia, we trace gene flow between the two groups. Our results show frequent hybridisation during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic, likely reflecting a mix of hunting and herding or relatively unmanaged herds, with mostly male aurochs and female domestic cattle involved. This is supported by isotopic evidence consistent with ecological niche sharing, with only a few domestic cattle possibly being managed. The proportion of aurochs ancestry in domestic cattle remains relatively constant from about 4000 years ago, probably due to herd management and selection against first generation hybrids, coinciding with other cultural transitions. The constant level of wild ancestry (~20%) continues into modern Western European breeds including Iberian cattle selected for aggressiveness and fighting ability. This study illuminates the genomic impact of human actions and wild introgression in the establishment of cattle as one of the most important domestic species today. https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11302 10.7554/eLife.93076.3 2050-084X The genomic legacy of aurochs hybridisation in ancient and modern Iberian cattle