A recent study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, has revealed complex migration patterns and endogamy in the prehistoric Aegean region. Researchers examined the DNA of 102 ancient individuals from areas like Crete, the Greek mainland, and the Aegean Islands, dating back as far as the Neolithic period. This was the time when the first farming communities were forming in Europe.
This study sheds light on how different groups of people moved into and across the Aegean region over time, and how they married within their communities. It also gives us insights into how cultures in this area were connected both biologically and socially.
Migration pattern of prehistoric Aegean
The earliest people studied were farmers from Crete, and their DNA matched that of other ancient farmers from the Aegean. This suggests that the farming communities around Crete were related to those on other Aegean islands and the Greek mainland. The first farmers in Crete had much in common with farmers from the broader Aegean region, showing a shared ancestry.
Things began to change towards the end of the Neolithic period. Around this time, researchers found evidence of new people arriving in Crete. Most of these new arrivals were from Anatolia.
This “eastern” influence in the DNA was clear as the Bronze Age began, around 3100 BC. This movement of people brought new customs and practices, and marked the start of a more complex society on Crete, with advanced buildings, metalworking, and trade networks.
The Greek mainland also saw genetic changes during this time. By the middle of the Bronze Age, the DNA of people on the mainland showed signs of ancestry from Central and Eastern Europe. Over time, this genetic signature made its way to Crete, likely reflecting the growing influence of the mainland on the island.
Complexity of ancient Aegean society
The DNA evidence also suggests that society in the Aegean was more complex than previously thought. Researchers found that many individuals from certain burial sites were closely related, indicating that family ties were very important.
In one site, a group of infants buried together was found to be part of an extended family, possibly showing that family bonds were maintained even in death.
Interestingly, while in some regions of ancient Europe there was a noticeable trend of male-biased migration (where mostly men moved from place to place, often seen in Central Europe and Britain), the Aegean region showed a different pattern.
The male and female ancestry contributions were more balanced, which hints at a more inclusive migration process involving whole families rather than just men.
Family marriages were common
The researchers also found that in some Aegean communities, marriages between close relatives were very common. In fact, about half of the individuals from one particular site showed signs of having parents who were first cousins.
This level of endogamy is rare and not commonly seen in other ancient populations studied so far. It suggests that these communities might have been small and isolated, or that marrying within the family was a social or cultural preference.
The reasons for such high levels of endogamy aren’t entirely clear, but it could be related to keeping wealth and property within the family, maintaining social status, or simply because the communities were relatively small and isolated from others.
This practice of marrying within the family seemed to continue for many centuries, from the Neolithic period through to the Late Bronze Age.
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