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Ancient DNA, strontium isotopes and osteological analyses shed light on social and kinship organization of the later stone age

Ancient DNA, strontium isotopes and osteological analyses shed light on social and kinship organization of the later stone age
Ancient DNA, strontium isotopes and osteological analyses shed light on social and kinship organization of the later stone age
In 2005 four outstanding multiple burials were discovered near Eulau, Germany. The 4,600-year-old graves contained groups of adults and children buried facing each other. Skeletal and artifactual evidence and the simultaneous interment of the individuals suggest the supposed families fell victim to a violent event. In a multidisciplinary approach, archaeological, anthropological, geochemical (radiogenic isotopes), and molecular genetic (ancient DNA) methods were applied to these unique burials. Using autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal markers, we identified genetic kinship among the individuals. A direct child-parent relationship was detected in one burial, providing the oldest molecular genetic evidence of a nuclear family. Strontium isotope analyses point to different origins for males and children versus females. By this approach, we gain insight into a Late Stone Age society, which appears to have been exogamous and patrilocal, and in which genetic kinship seems to be a focal point of social organization.
burial rites, neolithic, violence, corded ware culture, exogamy
0027-8424
18226-18231
Haak, W.
8bab99fc-1f7a-4bfe-947b-9789fb1978dd
Brandt, G.
abf6bed0-93ee-454d-be9a-af536b358303
de Jong, H.
cb5fc112-c8ef-414b-9c2d-d8880aa0dc30
Meyer, C.
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Ganslmeier, R.
ecb70753-547e-4027-80cf-c1adc96a1c19
Heyd, V.
abf13220-1f1f-43b2-af0e-ba97850e3ef6
Hawkesworth, C.
8361615e-3345-4741-bd02-e19942bbf869
Pike, A.W.G.
e8603e20-0a89-4d57-a294-247b983fc857
Meller, H.
d9e7ae0a-b446-4b23-866d-b07292935400
Alt, K.
ca025bc2-8006-447e-ba86-268430415301
Haak, W.
8bab99fc-1f7a-4bfe-947b-9789fb1978dd
Brandt, G.
abf6bed0-93ee-454d-be9a-af536b358303
de Jong, H.
cb5fc112-c8ef-414b-9c2d-d8880aa0dc30
Meyer, C.
58af247c-0c51-4872-bb9c-3384fbf8d3a2
Ganslmeier, R.
ecb70753-547e-4027-80cf-c1adc96a1c19
Heyd, V.
abf13220-1f1f-43b2-af0e-ba97850e3ef6
Hawkesworth, C.
8361615e-3345-4741-bd02-e19942bbf869
Pike, A.W.G.
e8603e20-0a89-4d57-a294-247b983fc857
Meller, H.
d9e7ae0a-b446-4b23-866d-b07292935400
Alt, K.
ca025bc2-8006-447e-ba86-268430415301

Haak, W., Brandt, G., de Jong, H., Meyer, C., Ganslmeier, R., Heyd, V., Hawkesworth, C., Pike, A.W.G., Meller, H. and Alt, K. (2008) Ancient DNA, strontium isotopes and osteological analyses shed light on social and kinship organization of the later stone age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105 (47), 18226-18231. (doi:10.1073/pnas.0807592105).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In 2005 four outstanding multiple burials were discovered near Eulau, Germany. The 4,600-year-old graves contained groups of adults and children buried facing each other. Skeletal and artifactual evidence and the simultaneous interment of the individuals suggest the supposed families fell victim to a violent event. In a multidisciplinary approach, archaeological, anthropological, geochemical (radiogenic isotopes), and molecular genetic (ancient DNA) methods were applied to these unique burials. Using autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal markers, we identified genetic kinship among the individuals. A direct child-parent relationship was detected in one burial, providing the oldest molecular genetic evidence of a nuclear family. Strontium isotope analyses point to different origins for males and children versus females. By this approach, we gain insight into a Late Stone Age society, which appears to have been exogamous and patrilocal, and in which genetic kinship seems to be a focal point of social organization.

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More information

Published date: 17 November 2008
Keywords: burial rites, neolithic, violence, corded ware culture, exogamy
Organisations: Archaeology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 343243
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/343243
ISSN: 0027-8424
PURE UUID: 14255bd4-edae-45bf-846c-6df61cd30cb7
ORCID for A.W.G. Pike: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5610-8948

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Date deposited: 02 Oct 2012 13:56
Last modified: 11 Jul 2024 01:50

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Contributors

Author: W. Haak
Author: G. Brandt
Author: H. de Jong
Author: C. Meyer
Author: R. Ganslmeier
Author: V. Heyd
Author: C. Hawkesworth
Author: A.W.G. Pike ORCID iD
Author: H. Meller
Author: K. Alt

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