A DNA analysis of ancient burial sites in southern Germany reveals a new discovery. The luxurious artifacts in these sites may be linked to an extended family’s elite members, specifically through their maternal side.
Two of the most opulent burial sites contained the remains of an uncle and nephew. The DNA analysis also found evidence of first-cousin inbreeding, suggesting a family dynasty held power.
This discovery challenges previous beliefs about how power was inherited during the Iron Age. Evidently, elite status was passed down through the maternal line. In this particular era, matrilineal inheritance was a rare practice. The findings were published in Nature Human Behaviour on June 3rd.
Burial mounds of early Celtic princes and princesses
During the Iron Age, roughly between 600 and 400 BC, people in what is now southwestern Germany, eastern France, and Switzerland built burial mounds. These mounds held valuable items such as gold jewelry, wagons, and goods from other places. The people buried there were powerful, both politically and religiously. They are often understood to be “early Celtic princes and princesses” by modern historians.
However, there has been a debate among researchers about how these individuals gained status. Some think they earned it through their accomplishments in life, while others believe they inherited their power.
In a recent study, researchers examined the ancient DNA of 31 skeletons from seven elite burial sites. These sites date back to the sixth and fifth centuries BC and are located within a 40-square-mile area in southwest Germany.
The goal was to find biological connections among these individuals. By doing so, they hoped to show that the early Celts had elite dynasties, as reported by Live Science.
The researchers found a close family tie between two men, probably an uncle and nephew, who shared the same maternal ancestry. These men were buried in mounds next to each other and seemed to have lived in the same area.
Dirk Krausse, one of the study’s authors and the lead archaeologist for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, mentioned that both men were exceptionally tall for Iron Age Germany, standing about 5 feet, 11 inches (1.8 meters). This suggests they had good nutrition and possibly inherited genes for tallness.
Rare biological link between great-grandmother and great-grandson
The study also uncovered a rare biological link between a woman and a man buried about 60 miles (100 kilometers) and a century apart. The researchers believe they were likely a great-grandmother and her great-grandson.
Additionally, they found signs of recent inbreeding. Two individuals appeared to be born to first-cousin parents. This type of evidence is uncommon in archaeogenetic studies. The findings suggest that inbreeding might have been more common among these Celtic elites compared to other ancient populations.
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