Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves
Abstract Joint inhumations of adults and children are an intriguing aspect of the shift from collective to single burial rites in third millennium BC Western Eurasia. Here, we revisit two exceptional Beaker period adult–child graves using ancient DNA: Altwies in Luxembourg and Dunstable Downs in Bri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45612-3 |
| _version_ | 1827770693665685504 |
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| author | Nicoletta Zedda Katie Meheux Jens Blöcher Yoan Diekmann Alexander V. Gorelik Martin Kalle Kevin Klein Anna-Lena Titze Laura Winkelbach Elise Naish Laurent Brou François Valotteau Foni Le Brun-Ricalens Joachim Burger Maxime Brami |
| author_facet | Nicoletta Zedda Katie Meheux Jens Blöcher Yoan Diekmann Alexander V. Gorelik Martin Kalle Kevin Klein Anna-Lena Titze Laura Winkelbach Elise Naish Laurent Brou François Valotteau Foni Le Brun-Ricalens Joachim Burger Maxime Brami |
| author_sort | Nicoletta Zedda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Joint inhumations of adults and children are an intriguing aspect of the shift from collective to single burial rites in third millennium BC Western Eurasia. Here, we revisit two exceptional Beaker period adult–child graves using ancient DNA: Altwies in Luxembourg and Dunstable Downs in Britain. Ancestry modelling and patterns of shared IBD segments between the individuals examined, and contemporary genomes from Central and Northwest Europe, highlight the continental connections of British Beakers. Although simultaneous burials may involve individuals with no social or biological ties, we present evidence that close blood relations played a role in shaping third millennium BC social systems and burial practices, for example a biological mother and her son buried together at Altwies. Extended family, such as a paternal aunt at Dunstable Downs, could also act as ‘substitute parents’ in the grave. Hypotheses are explored to explain such simultaneous inhumations. Whilst intercommunity violence, infectious disease and epidemics may be considered as explanations, they fail to account for both the specific, codified nature of this particular form of inhumation, and its pervasiveness, as evidenced by a representative sample of 131 adult–child graves from 88 sites across Eurasia, all dating to the third and second millennia BC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4be52af7c414886b30e221eda8ac6e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4be52af7c414886b30e221eda8ac6e52023-11-05T12:13:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-10-0113111810.1038/s41598-023-45612-3Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child gravesNicoletta Zedda0Katie Meheux1Jens Blöcher2Yoan Diekmann3Alexander V. Gorelik4Martin Kalle5Kevin Klein6Anna-Lena Titze7Laura Winkelbach8Elise Naish9Laurent Brou10François Valotteau11Foni Le Brun-Ricalens12Joachim Burger13Maxime Brami14Palaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzInstitute of Archaeology Library, LCCOS, University College LondonPalaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzPalaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzVor- Und Frühgeschichtliche Archäologie, Institut Für Altertumswissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg University MainzVor- Und Frühgeschichtliche Archäologie, Institut Für Altertumswissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg University MainzVor- Und Frühgeschichtliche Archäologie, Institut Für Altertumswissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg University MainzPalaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzPalaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzThe Culture TrustInstitut National de Recherches Archéologiques (INRA)Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques (INRA)Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques (INRA)Palaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzPalaeogenetics Group, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University MainzAbstract Joint inhumations of adults and children are an intriguing aspect of the shift from collective to single burial rites in third millennium BC Western Eurasia. Here, we revisit two exceptional Beaker period adult–child graves using ancient DNA: Altwies in Luxembourg and Dunstable Downs in Britain. Ancestry modelling and patterns of shared IBD segments between the individuals examined, and contemporary genomes from Central and Northwest Europe, highlight the continental connections of British Beakers. Although simultaneous burials may involve individuals with no social or biological ties, we present evidence that close blood relations played a role in shaping third millennium BC social systems and burial practices, for example a biological mother and her son buried together at Altwies. Extended family, such as a paternal aunt at Dunstable Downs, could also act as ‘substitute parents’ in the grave. Hypotheses are explored to explain such simultaneous inhumations. Whilst intercommunity violence, infectious disease and epidemics may be considered as explanations, they fail to account for both the specific, codified nature of this particular form of inhumation, and its pervasiveness, as evidenced by a representative sample of 131 adult–child graves from 88 sites across Eurasia, all dating to the third and second millennia BC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45612-3 |
| spellingShingle | Nicoletta Zedda Katie Meheux Jens Blöcher Yoan Diekmann Alexander V. Gorelik Martin Kalle Kevin Klein Anna-Lena Titze Laura Winkelbach Elise Naish Laurent Brou François Valotteau Foni Le Brun-Ricalens Joachim Burger Maxime Brami Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves Scientific Reports |
| title | Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves |
| title_full | Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves |
| title_fullStr | Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves |
| title_short | Biological and substitute parents in Beaker period adult–child graves |
| title_sort | biological and substitute parents in beaker period adult child graves |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45612-3 |
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