A study published in 2011 looking at the relationship between Iraq's Marsh Arabs and ancient Sumerians concluded "the modern Marsh Arabs of Iraq harbour mtDNAs and Y chromosomes that are predominantly of Middle Eastern origin.
A 2013 study based on DNA extracted from the dental remains of four individuals, unearthed at Tell Ashara (ancient Terqa) and Tell Masaikh (ancient Kar-Assurnasirpal) suggest a genetic link between the people of Bronze Age Mesopotamia and South Asia.