Multidisciplinary analysis suggests the lay Buddhist identity of the seated burials from Tang Dynasty Chang’an

Seated burial is a rare funerary practice, often associated with social status, religious beliefs, or ethnic traditions, yet its underlying cultural motivations remain poorly understood. In this study, a multidisciplinary analysis was conducted on four seated burials dating to the Tang Dynasty, identified among more than 4,000 tombs from four sites in Xi'an, to investigate potential links to Buddhism or specific ethnic affiliations. The C-14 dating results indicate that these individuals lived between the 7th and 8th centuries AD, a period of peak prosperity during the Tang Dynasty. Ancient DNA analysis reveals that their genetic profiles are consistent with those of local ordinary residents. While one individual exhibits a mixed ANA-SEA-WSH ancestry—a combination not uncommon at the time—the other three show affinities primarily with the YR_MN population. Their dietary patterns, dominated by millet and supplemented with wheat and animal protein, align closely with those of the broader regional population. Taken together, these findings suggest that seated burials in the Chang'an region during the Tang Dynasty were neither tied to distinct genetic lineages nor indicative of unique ethnic or dietary identities. Although Buddhist symbolic artifacts, such as pagoda-shaped jars, were found in one tomb, isotopic evidence contradicts strict adherence to vegetarian Buddhist precepts. This discrepancy implies that seated burial may have represented a secular adaptation of Buddhist mortuary concepts, adopted by lay individuals influenced by Buddhist teachings, thereby reflecting the deep integration of Buddhist culture into everyday life in Tang Dynasty China.