NEWS AND VIEWS03 September 2025A study examines the emergence of a group that sparked a fundamental change in lifestyle in Central and Eastern Europe in the sixth century.BySteffen Patzold ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0533-47310Steffen PatzoldSteffen Patzold is in the Department of Medieval History, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.View author publicationsSearch author on: PubMed Google ScholarIn the sixth century, authors in the Roman Empire began writing about a previously unknown large group in Eastern Europe: the ‘Slavs’. The group’s early history has been the subject of heated debate between historians and archaeologists for decades. Writing in Nature, Gretzinger et al.1 provide crucial ancient DNA evidence for analysing the emergence of the Slavs.Access optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 51 print issues and online access199,00 € per yearonly 3,90 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutdoi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02525-7ReferencesGretzinger, J. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09437-6 (2025).Article Google Scholar Weiß, G. & Katsanakis, A. Das Ethnikon Sklabenoi, Sklaboi in den griechischen Quellen bis 1025 (Steiner, 1988).Google Scholar Reisinger, J. & Sowa, G. Das Ethnikon Sclavi in den lateinischen Quellen bis zum Jahr 900 (Steiner, 1990).Google Scholar Brather, S. Archäologie der westlichen Slawen (De Gruyter, 2008).Google Scholar Brather, S. Antiquity 78, 314–329 (2004).Article Google Scholar Curta, F. The Making of the Slavs (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2001).Google Scholar Wang, K. et al. Nature 638, 1007–1014 (2025).Article PubMed Google Scholar Download referencesCompeting InterestsThe author declares no competing interests. Read the paper: Ancient DNA connects large-scale migration with the spread of Slavs Genetic and geographical origins of Eurasia’s influential Yamna culture Women were at the centre of social networks in Iron Age BritainSee all News & ViewsSubjectsHistoryGenomicsArchaeologyLatest on:Jobs Lab Technician PositionOpportunity for skilled hands and sharp minds—at any career stageVienna BioCenter, AustriaMax Perutz Labs, Köhler LabJunior Research Group Leader (f)As a junior research group leader, you will pursue a larger research project with your own budget, hosted by the Institutes of Chemistry and Physics.Halle (Saale), Sachsen-Anhalt (DE)Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg