Ancient DNA (Archaeology)

Population movements constitute a significant driver of cultural change in prehistoric societies. In recent years, sulfur isotopes have emerged as a valuable approach for distinguishing human/animal provenance. However, the scarcity of sulfur isotope studies and the lack of baseline maps predicting their variations in the landscape limit our current knowledge about mobility behaviours. Here, we first present the δ 34 S isotope values of 142 human and animal bone collagen samples from coastal and inland funerary sites located in northern Iberia. Second, to apply a multivariate machine-learning regression and a random forest model to predict sulfur isotope variations across Iberia, we compiled the sulfur isotope data from 554 specimens of 41 archaeological locations from Holocene contexts. Our research demonstrated that population movement between coastal and inland locations is observable through differences in the δ 34 S isotope values of individuals linked to their respective environments, suggesting migrations on both sides of the Cantabrian mountain range. The resulting isoscape model demonstrates that sulfur isotope patterns are highly predictable, with 82% of the sulfur isotope variation explained by only four variables: elevation, Bouguer anomaly, distance from the coast, and strontium isotope values. While the model is highly accurate for regions with large amounts of data, such as northern Iberia, Central and Eastern Iberia still require more sulfur isotope data to predict isoscapes.

Written sources show that livestock were traded during the Roman period. However, there is scarce information available to characterise this trade because of its invisibility in the archaeological record. In our paper, we shed light on this issue by applying both osteometric and genetic analyses on cattle remains from the Roman trading post of Empúries (Catalonia) to determine how livestock contributed to Roman trade and, thus, to the economy of the Empire. Analysis of 26 cattle metacarpals from Empúries has allowed us to document the presence of different cattle morphotypes in this city during its Early Roman occupation. The morphological and genetic differences seen in Empúries cattle can be explained through trade of different cattle varieties, more appropriate for milk production and/or traction than the local stock. Once arrived at the port of Empúries, these imported cattle would have then been distributed to surrounding villas.

The period between roughly 55 and 42 ka in Eurasia witnessed considerable biocultural changes, including the demic replacement of local Neanderthal populations by dispersing Homo sapiens groups. Once thought to be a rapid, monolithic process, new data have shown this demographic turnover to be far more complex, including a high degree of variability in stone tool technologies, symbolic expressions, including personal ornaments, and an earlier presence of H. sapiens in Eurasia than previously thought. Here, we present a robust, statistically supported spatial and site formation analysis of shell beads and pigments associated with Châtelperronian stone tools at La Roche-à-Pierrot, Saint-Césaire (France), and discuss their relevance for tracing Paleolithic cultural variability and the emergence of symbolic expressions.

Donkeys transformed human history as essential beasts of burden for long-distance movement, especially across semi-arid and upland environments. They remain insufficiently studied despite globally expanding and providing key support to low- to middle-income communities. To elucidate their domestication history, we constructed a comprehensive genome panel of 207 modern and 31 ancient donkeys, as well as 15 wild equids. We found a strong phylogeographic structure in modern donkeys that supports a single domestication in Africa ~5000 BCE, followed by further expansions in this continent and Eurasia and ultimately returning to Africa. We uncover a previously unknown genetic lineage in the Levant ~200 BCE, which contributed increasing ancestry toward Asia. Donkey management involved inbreeding and the production of giant bloodlines at a time when mules were essential to the Roman economy and military.

Barley is one of the oldest cultivated crops, with a complex evolutionary and domestication history. Previous studies have rejected the idea of a single origin and instead support a model of mosaic genomic ancestry. With increasingly comprehensive genome data, we now ask where the haplotypes — the building blocks of this mosaic — originate, and whether all domesticated barleys share the same wild progenitors or whether certain wild populations contribute more heavily to specific lineages. To address these questions, we apply a haplotype-based approach to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of wild and domesticated barley. We analyse whole-genome sequences from 682 genebank accessions and 23 archaeological specimens, tracing the spatiotemporal origins of haplotypes and identifying wild contributors during domestication and later gene flow events. Ancient DNA supports our genome-wide findings from modern samples. Our results suggest that a founding domesticated population emerged in the Fertile Crescent during a prolonged period of pre-domestication cultivation. A key practical insight is that the high haplotype differentiation among barley populations — arising independently, or layered on top, of selection — poses challenges for mapping adaptive loci.

Ancient DNA research in the past decade has revealed that European population structure changed dramatically in the prehistoric period (14,000-3,000 years before present, YBP), reflecting the widespread introduction of Neolithic farmer and Bronze Age Steppe ancestries. However, little is known about how population structure changed in the historical period onward (3,000 YBP - present). To address this, we collected whole genomes from 204 individuals from Europe and the Mediterranean, many of which are the first historical period genomes from their region (e.g. Armenia, France). We found that most regions show remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity. Around 8% of historical individuals carry ancestry uncommon in the region where they were sampled, some indicating cross-Mediterranean contacts. Despite this high level of mobility, overall population structure across western Eurasia is relatively stable through the historical period up to the present, mirroring the geographic map. We ...

Bakhtiyar Tunjay Turkic-speaking Gagauzians-direct descendants of Yamna culture (Pit culture) Yamna (Budjak) culture is an archaeological culture of the Late Eneolithic Age-the early Bronze Age (3600-2300 BC), which occupied territory from the Southern Urals in the east to the Dniester in the west, from Ciscaucasia in the south to the Middle Volga in the north. L. S. Klein in 1975 identified the western wing of the this culture in a separate Nerusha culture (13). Yamna (Budjak) culture was predominantly nomadic, with elements of hoe farming near rivers and on some sites of ancient settlements. The hoes were made from bones (horns). Representatives of this culture created wheeled carts (araba). The earliest finds in Eastern Europe of the remains of four-wheeled wagons were found in burials of Yamna (Budjak) culture (for example, "Watchtower" on the territory of the Dnieper, cemetery near the village of Yassky in the Odessa region, Shumaevsky burial ground in Orenburg region, etc.). A characteristic feature of the Yamna (Budjak) culture is the burial of the dead in the pits under the mounds in the position lying on the back, with bent knees. The bodies showered with ocher. The burials in the barrows were plural and often produced at different times. Animal burials (cows, pigs, sheep, goats and horses) have also been found. In the steppe belt from the Danube River in the west to the upper reaches of the Manych River in the east, there are approximately 160 burials of a pit culture with the remains of wheeled vehicles (wheels, wagons), as well as their clay models and remains of drawings. The oldest of the finds date from a calibrated scale of the 32nd century BC. (14). Four-wheeled carts were found on the bank of the Yalpukh River in the southwest of Moldova, near the village of Mayaki on the left bank of the Lower Dniester, near the village Sofievka on the Ingulets River, in another burial in Ingul. The remains of a two-wheeled cart derive from the burial mound of the burial mound "A watchtower" near the city of the Dnieper. Another cart was found in the cemetery Pervokonstantinovka near Kakhovka, and the remains of a two-wheeled cart near the village of Akkermen in Melitopolshchina. One wheel was found in the pit burial near the city of Rostov, in burial mound 7 of the burial ground Gerasimovka I, Shumaevo II in the Urals. In Shumaevo, OK II / 2 found 3 wheels, Izobilniy I 3/1-4 imitations of the wheels (15). Both wheels of a two-wheeled wooden arby from the Watchtower grave of the pit culture under the city of the Dnieper (III millennium BC) were made of a solid piece of wood, cut longitudinally, with round holes for the axis and thick hubs (18).

For societies with writing systems, hereditary leadership is documented as one of the hallmarks of early political complexity and governance. In contrast, it is unknown whether hereditary succession played a role in the early formation of prehistoric complex societies that lacked writing. Here we use an archaeogenomic approach to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon, the centre of an expansive prehistoric complex society in the Southwestern United States. We show that nine individuals buried in an elite crypt at Pueblo Bonito, the largest structure in the canyon, have identical mitochondrial genomes. Analyses of nuclear genome data from six samples with the highest DNA preservation demonstrate mother-daughter and grandmother-grandson relationships, evidence for a multigenerational matrilineal descent group. Together, these results demonstrate the persistence of an elite matriline in Chaco for ∼330 years.

The understanding of landscape stability and erosional regimes from carbonate geological areas has traditionally been limited to fluvial areas due to the lack of lakes and the predominance of clastic-dominated valley fills. The combination of novel Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating and sediment ancient DNA opens up new possibilities to study these geomorphological, ecological and agrarian changes in clastic-carbonate landscapes. Here, we use OSL dating and sedaDNA analyses alongside traditional geoarchaeological techniques to examine potential anthropogenic and palaeoclimatic drivers of sediment transfer within a loessic-dominated dry valley with agricultural lynchets at Sint Martens-Voeren, eastern Belgium, through the late Holocene. Cultivation of loess-dominated sediments across the dry-valley hilltop occurred from the Bronze Age (1900-700 BCE), with lynchet formation on the steep valley sides occurring from later prehistory (Iron Age 700-50 BCE). Major erosion and valley bottom sedimentation began in the early medieval period (450-1000 CE) and accelerated in the medieval and post medieval periods (1000-1750 CE) in line with an intensification of arable cultivation, particularly beet and hops, the development of open three-field agrarian diversity, landscape connectivity and increased climatic variability. This pattern of late Holocene slope-sediment erosion, transfer and storage mirrors other dry valley sites in the Voer catchments, especially in relation to lynchets, and accelerations in sedimentation in other eastern Belgian fluvial catchments, driven by high-intensity palaeoagronomic systems.

The field of ancient DNA is dominated by studies focusing on terrestrial vertebrates. This taxonomic bias limits our understanding of endogenous DNA preservation for species with different bone physiology, such as teleost fish. Teleost bone is typically brittle, porous, lightweight, and is characterized by a lack of bone remodeling during growth. All of these factors potentially affect DNA preservation. Using high-throughput shotgun sequencing, we here investigate the preservation of DNA in a range of different bone elements from over 200 archaeological Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) specimens from 38 sites in northern Europe, dating up to 8000 years before present. We observe that the majority of archaeological sites (79%) yield endogenous DNA, with 40% of sites providing samples containing high levels (>20%). Library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA depend mainly on excavation site and pre-extraction laboratory treatment. The use of pre-extraction treatments lowers the rate of libraries that can be sequenced, althoughif successfulthe fraction of endogenous DNA can be improved by several orders of magnitude. This trade-off between library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA allows for alternative extraction strategies depending on the requirements of down-stream analyses and research questions. Finally, we do not find particular bone elements to yield higher levels of endogenous DNA, as is the case for denser bones in mammals. Our results highlight the potential of archaeological fish bone as a source for ancient DNA and suggest a possible role of bone remodeling in the preservation of endogenous DNA.

During the last years ancient DNA and stable isotope analyses has been currently used in archaeological research. These applications totally enlarged limits and possibilities of the zooarchaeological studies changing the historical meaning of the faunal assemblages recovered in archaeological sites. Ancient biomolecular analyses have different advantages from techniques and methods traditionally used in Zooarchaeology. First, the possibility to directly investigate the dynamics and way of life of the living animal populations (i.e. reproductive patterns, dietary habits and movility patterns), very difficult to achieve from traditional approaches. Secondly, broadening the temporal resolution of the samples, getting access to historical events in reduced timescales. These advantages allowed to fall on questions very difficult to evidence from archaeological studies, so far almost invisible. In this work are presented the main research lines and themes investigated from these analyses,...

Ancient DNA research in the past decade has revealed that European population structure changed dramatically in the prehistoric period (14,000-3,000 years before present, YBP), reflecting the widespread introduction of Neolithic farmer and Bronze Age Steppe ancestries. However, little is known about how population structure changed in the historical period onward (3,000 YBP - present). To address this, we collected whole genomes from 204 individuals from Europe and the Mediterranean, many of which are the first historical period genomes from their region (e.g. Armenia, France). We found that most regions show remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity. Around 8% of historical individuals carry ancestry uncommon in the region where they were sampled, some indicating cross-Mediterranean contacts. Despite this high level of mobility, overall population structure across western Eurasia is relatively stable through the historical period up to the present, mirroring the geographic map. We ...

Following a confirmed genetic diagnosis, rare disease patients and their families encounter significant challenges in accessing diagnostic information and support. Patients and non-specialists are increasingly expected to interpret and share test results; however, existing standards are primarily designed for specialists. These standards fail to address the needs of resource-limited populations where low genomic literacy hampers accurate dissemination of genetic results. This research introduces RareInsight, an open-source, interactive dashboard designed to enhance the accessibility, comprehension, and collaboration of genetic data among patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. Developed using shinydashboard, RareInsight was evaluated using whole exome sequencing data from skeletal dysplasia patients. It allows users to input and view Variant Call Format files and includes a searchable ClinVar variant table with filtering options, providing access to multiple resources based on search terms. RareInsight aims to simplify the dissemination of complex genetic information beyond the clinical setting. This dashboard serves as a pilot study demonstrating the potential of patient-centered interactive dashboards for the rare disease community.

Ce volume bilingue, comprenant un ensemble de 28 contributions disponibles en français et en anglais (dans leur version longue ou abrégée), propose d'établir un état des lieux des réflexions, recherches et études conduites sur le fait funéraire à l'époque tardo-antique au sein des provinces de l'Empire romain et sur leurs régions limitrophes, afin d'ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives sur ses évolutions possibles. Au cours des trois dernières décennies, les transformations considérables des méthodologies déployées sur le terrain et en laboratoire ont permis un renouveau des questionnements sur les populations et les pratiques funéraires de l'Antiquité tardive, période marquée par de multiples changements politiques, sociaux, démographiques et culturels. L'apparition de ce qui a été initialement désigné comme une « Anthropologie de terrain », qui fut le début de la démarche archéothanatologique, puis le récent développement d'approches collaboratives entre des domaines scientifiques divers (archéothanatologie, biochimie et géochimie, génétique, histoire, épigraphie par exemple) ont été décisives pour le renouvellement des problématiques d'étude : révision d'anciens concepts comme apparition d'axes d'analyse inédits. Les recherches rassemblées dans cet ouvrage sont articulées autour de quatre grands thèmes : l'évolution des pratiques funéraires dans le temps, l'identité sociale dans la mort, les ensembles funéraires en transformation (organisation et topographie) et les territoires de l'empire (du coeur aux marges). Ces études proposent un réexamen et une révision des données, tant anthropologiques qu'archéologiques ou historiques sur l'Antiquité tardive, et révèlent, à cet égard, une mosaïque de paysages politiques, sociaux et culturels singulièrement riches et complexes. Elles accroissent nos connaissances sur le traitement des défunts, l'emplacement des aires funéraires ou encore la structure des sépultures, en révélant une diversité de pratiques, et permettent au final de relancer la réflexion sur la manière dont les sociétés tardo-antiques envisagent la mort et sur les éléments permettant d'identifier et de définir la diversité des groupes qui les composent. Elles démontrent ce faisant que nous pouvons véritablement appréhender les structures culturelles et sociales des communautés anciennes et leurs potentielles transformations, à partir de l'étude des pratiques funéraires. This bilingual volume proposes to draw up an assessment of the recent research conducted on funerary behavior during Late Antiquity in the provinces of the Roman Empire and on their borders, in order to open new perspectives on its possible developments. The considerable transformations of the methodologies have raised the need for a renewal of the questions on the funerary practices during Late Antiquity, a period marked by multiple political, social, demographic and cultural changes. The emergence field anthropology, which was the beginning of archaeothanatology, and then the recent development of collaborative approaches between various scientific fields (archaeothanatology, biochemistry and geochemistry, genetics, history, epigraphy, for example), have been decisive. The research collected in this book is structured around four main themes: Evolution of funerary practices over time; Social identity through death; Changing burial grounds (organisation and topography); Territories of the Empire (from the heart to the margins). These studies propose a review and a revision of the data, both anthropological and archaeological or historical on Late Antiquity, and reveal a mosaic of political, social, and cultural landscapes singularly rich and complex. In doing so, they demonstrate that we can truly understand the cultural and social structures of ancient communities and their potential transformations, based on the study of funerary practices.

The assessment of sex is fundamental in osteoarcheological analysis, yet traditional morphological methods are less reliable for children due to the incomplete development of sexually dimorphic traits. This study applies a multi-method approach-integrating morphological, metric, and genetic data-to assess sex and, through analysis of burial assemblages, explore gender expression as an interpretative complement. While analytically distinct, gender and sex are deeply intertwined, and considering both can offer a fuller understanding of identity. The study focuses on the Viking Age (c. 750-1050 ce) burial site of Ihre, Gotland, with particular attention to individuals under 20. Results reveal strong alignment between metric and genetic sex. Mandibular odontometric analysis proved more consistent than traditional morphological traits when compared to genetic sex, offering an accessible and effective supplement for sex estimation in children. In adolescents, pelvic traits were most informative, while cranial traits showed limited reliability. Genetic sexing provided a critical reference, highlighting misclassifications in morphological assessments, particularly among genetic males. Burial assemblage analysis indicates that gender expression often corresponded with biological sex but varied with age. Female graves typically included dress items such as brooches and pendants, especially after adolescence, while male graves more frequently featured tools and weapons. These patterns suggest that gendered roles and identities were materially expressed and changed over the life course. The findings underscore the importance of a multi-method approach in sex estimation, particularly for children, and demonstrate the value of contextual archeological analysis in interpreting past identities. At Ihre, the interplay between sex, gender, and social identity in mortuary practices suggests a framework that, while broadly organized around binary distinctions, was shaped by age and culturally specific factors-highlighting identity as dynamic, layered, and context-dependent.

Highlights d The individual was from a population that is the largest source of ancestry for South Asians d Iranian-related ancestry in South Asia split from Iranian plateau lineages >12,000 years ago d First farmers of the Fertile Crescent contributed little to no ancestry to later South Asians

Our 2022 article challenged the traditional view of Lepenski Vir as a Mesolithic village that became Neolithic. Instead, genetic analysis suggests it was founded by Aegean farmers who occasionally admixed with local hunter-gatherers but maintained separate burials. New genomes released by Žegarac et al. (2025), including that of an infant boy with fully Aegean ancestry during the final phase of occupation, support the presence of entire immigrant families at the site. The discovery of neonates of mixed ancestry beneath house floors highlights complex interactions during the transitional phase. Additional kinship and identity-by-descent analyses offer deeper insight into early farmer-forager admixture processes.

There have been many studies conducted to explain large scale human genetic relationships within a wide range of areas of the world, as well as studies linking culture and genetic variation in the Asia and Pacific region, including Indonesia. Ethnic group of Minahasan tribe in North Celebes show similarity and diversity in their values and expression, such as language. They are recognized until now. Similar studies for many communities in eastern Indonesia have been conducted, but more attention needed, because of the diversity of cultures, genetic and historical trajectory. Study of genetic relationships using molecular markers provide a strong possible response to interpret what's behind the relations of human cultures and biodiversity in the Minahasa. This study aimed to describe of diversity and genetic relationships based on molecular marker searches for several family name in Minahasa that represent the names of families in this area. Molecular markers are used that have been identified for the M9 Austronesian region. M9 is a molecular marker haplotypes kromosome Y that can be used in tracing kinship relations based on the inheritance of men. Cultural markers in this study using the similarity and differences in certain basic words of several major ethnic sub is in Minahasa. The method used the determination of the respondent, the isolation of DNA from saliva, PCR amplification, sequencing DNA, data analysis with MEGA 4. The results obtained from the primary M9 Y chromosome can amplify target with size that can not be distinguished. The results of sequencing and alignment produces 127 bp with 5 non-consensus nucleotides. Genetically the closest relationships are the Tombulu and Toulour. The language and culture of the closest relationships are the Tombulu and Tonsea.

Malaria-causing protozoa of the genus Plasmodium have exerted one of the strongest selective pressures on the human genome, and resistance alleles provide biomolecular footprints that outline the historical reach of these species1. Nevertheless, debate persists over when and how malaria parasites emerged as human pathogens and spread around the globe1,2. To address these questions, we generated high-coverage ancient mitochondrial and nuclear genome-wide data from P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. malariae from 16 countries spanning around 5,500 years of human history. We identified P. vivax and P. falciparum across geographically disparate regions of Eurasia from as early as the fourth and first millennia bce, respectively; for P. vivax, this evidence pre-dates textual references by several millennia3. Genomic analysis supports distinct disease histories for P. falciparum and P. vivax in the Americas: similarities between now-eliminated European and peri-contact South American strains indicate that European colonizers were the source of American P. vivax, whereas the trans-Atlantic slave trade probably introduced P. falciparum into the Americas. Our data underscore the role of cross-cultural contacts in the dissemination of malaria, laying the biomolecular foundation for future palaeo-epidemiological research into the impact of Plasmodium parasites on human history. Finally, our unexpected discovery of P. falciparum in the high-altitude Himalayas provides a rare case study in which individual mobility can be inferred from infection status, adding to our knowledge of cross-cultural connectivity in the region nearly three millennia ago.

The question of human immortality has long fascinated philosophy, science, and speculative thought. Despite tremendous advances in medicine and biotechnology, death remains the inevitable endpoint of biological life. This paper sets forth my own theoretical perspective on a radical possibility: replacing human blood with a synthetic, life-sustaining liquid that could maintain physiological function without food, oxygen, or conventional metabolism. Drawing on established biological knowledge of postmortem decay, hematology, and cellular function, I argue that such a medium could fundamentally alter human existence. I believe the first step toward this vision requires controlled experimentation in animals, followed by eventual human application if feasibility is demonstrated. The most pressing challenge is to discover the true source of energy or the elemental basis that could sustain cells indefinitely without reliance on oxygen or nutrients. I argue that scientists and governments must dedicate far greater resources to this pursuit, including space exploration, because the key to eternal life may lie in unknown elements or compounds beyond Earth. This work is written from my perspective and conviction that immortality is not only possible but essential for the future of humanity. While speculative, I propose a roadmap grounded in scientific curiosity, philosophical reflection, and the drive to transcend mortality. References from contemporary biology, regenerative medicine, and philosophy support this argument, but the framework itself is original and represents my own expectation of how humanity might one day achieve infinite life.

Reintroductions are a powerful tool for the recovery of endangered species. However, their long-term success is strongly influenced by the genetic diversity of the reintroduced population. The chances of population persistence can be improved by enhancing the population's adaptive ability through the mixing of individuals from different sources. However, where source populations are too diverse the reintroduced population could also suffer from outbreeding depression or unsuccessful admixture due to behavioural or genetic barriers. For the reintroduction of Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus ssp. in Israel, a breeding core was created from individuals of two different subspecies (E. h. onager & E. h. kulan). Today the population comprises approximately 300 individuals and displays no signs of outbreeding depression. The aim of this study was a population genomic evaluation of this conservation reintroduction protocol. We used maximum likelihood methods and genetic clustering analyses to investigate subspecies admixture and test for spatial autocorrelation based on subspecies ancestry. Further, we analysed heterozygosity and effective population sizes in the breeding core prior to release and the current wild population. We discovered high levels of subspecies admixture in the breeding core and wild population, consistent with a significant heterozygote excess in the breeding core. Furthermore, we found no signs of spatial autocorrelation associated with subspecies ancestry in the wild population. Inbreeding and variance effective population size estimates were low. Our results indicate no genetic or behavioural barriers to admixture between the subspecies and suggest that their hybridization has led to greater genetic diversity in the reintroduced population. The study provides rare empirical evidence of the successful application of subspecies hybridization in a reintroduction. It supports use of intraspecific hybridization as a tool to increase genetic diversity in conservation translocations.

This study investigates adolescence in the early medieval period in Austria by combining historical, archaeological, genetic, and osteological data. To better understand adolescence in the Avar period (650-800 CE), we consulted early medieval inscriptions and historical sources on steppe peoples and correlated them to the osteological findings on the timing of development and the pubertal growth spurt from two Austrian sites. We found that non-specific stress indicators were useful in explaining some of the variance in the timing of the growth spurt, in the absence of severe chronic diseases. The distribution of pathological changes over the duration of adolescence illustrated potential changes in the roles and responsibilities of adolescents. Differences in inflammatory changes may reflect distinct living conditions of male and female adolescents.

This study examines the genetic and historical evidence for Yehudah-Mikael ben David’s claim to Davidic descent, focusing on the rare Y-DNA haplogroup I1a2a1a. By integrating population genetics, archaeological records, and documented Israelite migration patterns, the paper reconstructs a plausible 3,000-year lineage from ancient Judah to the present. The research avoids theological speculation, relying solely on verifiable data to bridge the gap between science and biblical history.

Conference poster (updated) for the international conference “The Transformation of Europe in the Third Millennium BC” in Budapest, Hungary, between 24-27 April 2024.

This poster was turned into a paper and will feature in the forthcoming conference proceedings.

ABSTRACT:
Bipolar, gender-differentiated and crouched single burials are generally considered defining elements of the wider Corded Ware complex. Yet, a considerable amount of non-single graves (Non-SGs) challenge this standard. Non-SGs offer a yet understudied complexity, in which deviation from the norm but also (trans)regional conventions are recognisable. While most recent engagements with the topic continue to revolve around prominent but few case studies, the subject remains understudied with its broader overarching patterns in the archaeological record. This poster presents a general outline of the spatiotemporal framework of Non-SGs and delves into the various configurations of buried individuals sharing a grave.

The field of ancient DNA and population genetics is a new field that has rapidly expanded over the past decade, offering new insights into human history. Innovations have advanced our ability to both collect and analyse DNA, and these innovations in public and academic use exposes the requirement for the field to undergo the kind of scrutiny and methodological protocols that we have become accustomed to in legacy fields of historiography.  This relatively novel field of study presents exciting possibilities for historians to corroborate historical evidences with genetic confirmations.  However, when applied to the African continent, particularly North and East Africa, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting the field suffers from systemic methodological inconsistencies and Eurocentric interpretive biases. This paper critiques five influential studies—Scheunemann et al. (2017), Llorente et al. (2015), Salem et al. (2025), Moubtahjj et al. (2024), and Morez et al. (2025)—through the lens of Lachance and Tishkoff's (2013) seminal review on SNP ascertainment bias. By examining discrepancies in analytical weighting (e.g., fluctuating prioritisation of PCA, ADMIXTURE, and qpAdm), inconsistent reference population selection, and interpretive asymmetries in explaining African versus Eurasian ancestry, we reveal deep structural issues within the field which lead to biased reporting and a tendency for politically charged abstracts and conclusions.  These skewed narratives are then sensationalised in media headlines.  We argue for a paradigm shift towards more holistic African-centered methodologies, equitable genomic sampling, and historically contextualized interpretations.

Artefacts made from stones, bones and teeth are fundamental to our understanding of human subsistence strategies, behaviour and culture in the Pleistocene. Although these resources are plentiful, it is impossible to associate artefacts to specific human individuals1 who can be morphologically or genetically characterized, unless they are found within burials, which are rare in this time period. Thus, our ability to discern the societal roles of Pleistocene individuals based on their biological sex or genetic ancestry is limited2–5. Here we report the development of a non-destructive method for the gradual release of DNA trapped in ancient bone and tooth artefacts. Application of the method to an Upper Palaeolithic deer tooth pendant from Denisova Cave, Russia, resulted in the recovery of ancient human and deer mitochondrial genomes, which allowed us to estimate the age of the pendant at approximately 19,000–25,000 years. Nuclear DNA analysis identifies the presumed maker or wearer o...

A concern with ethics and commitments to ethical conduct and standards has increasingly been raised within archaeology, recently also concerning aDNA data. We suggest that codes, whether for working with ancient DNA or other archaeological practices, need to be multi-faceted, or layered, to reflect the different situational contexts of research. We further argue for a more reflexive text addressing "issues of attention" or "concerns." We address a number of concerns that should be considered and balanced against each other in the research process. They include respect, rights, appropriation, access, and collaboration.

We analysed macro-and microscopic features of dorsal guard hairs in 21 specimens of wild and domestic sheep and goats. We integrated and extended the available data on hair morphology of wild species and provide a first comparative analysis of hair structure of domestic forms. Domestic sheep and goats, probably due to a convergence process under artificial selection, show similar medullary features to each other and different medullary structures from their relative wild relatives. Different breeds show a diverse alteration of the medullary structure probably correlated to the duration of the domestication process. Domestic sheep have a cuticular structure different from the relative wild ancestor, while domestic goats do not show clear differences in the cuticle from the related wild species. The strong artificial selection for wool production may have transformed the hair structure of the sheep, but not that of the goat. We described the effects of age on the microscopic structure of hair, which have not yet been investigated. The medullary structure and the cuticular pattern in domestic forms do not change with age, as seen in wild species, because juveniles characters are retained in adults due to domestication.

In this study, we present new ancient DNA data from prehistoric and historic populations of the Iranian Plateau. By analysing 50 samples from nine archaeological sites across Iran, we report 23 newly sequenced mitogenomes and 13 nuclear genomes, spanning 4700 BCE to 1300 CE. We integrate an extensive reference sample set of previously published ancient DNA datasets from Western and South-Central Asia, enhancing our understanding of genetic continuity and diversity within ancient Iranian populations. A new Early Chalcolithic sample, predating all other Chalcolithic genomes from Iran, demonstrates mostly Early Neolithic Iranian genetic ancestry. This finding reflects long-term cultural and biological continuity in and around the Zagros area, alongside evidence of some western genetic influence. Our sample selection prioritizes northern Iran, with a particular focus on the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid periods (355 BCE-460 CE). The genetic profiles of historical samples from this region position them as intermediates on an east-west genetic cline across the Persian Plateau. They also exhibit strong connections to local and South-Central Asian Bronze Age populations, underscoring enduring genetic connections across these regions. Diachronic analyses of uniparental lineages on the Iranian Plateau further highlight population stability from prehistoric to modern times.

We investigated ancestry, kinship, and health in individuals from three cemeteries in Finland: Tampere Vilusenharju and Pälkäne Ristiänmäki (11th–12th centuries) and Rauniokirkko (13th–19th century). The oldest burials provide insights into Finland’s medieval population, otherwise poorly known due to poor bone preservation. Using ancient genomic data, contemporary Finnish Biobank data, and identity-by-descent (IBD) analyses, we identified strong regional continuity between the medieval and modern Finnish populations and evidence for mobility within Finland and between Finland and Scandinavia. Kinship analysis identified a sibling relationship between individuals buried 30 km apart and indicated a shared genetic background for individuals from the three cemeteries. However, individuals buried in physical proximity at Rauniokirkko were not closely related, suggesting that social ties, not family relations, shaped burial practices. The pattern may reflect emerging Christian mortuary norms and community-based burial organization. Pathogen screening revealed potential Yersinia and Treponema infections, shedding light on disease burden in medieval Finland.

From AD 567–568, at the onset of the Avar period, populations from the Eurasian Steppe settled in the Carpathian Basin for approximately 250 years. Extensive sampling for archaeogenomics (424 individuals) and isotopes, combined with archaeological, anthropological, and historical contextualization of four Avar-period cemeteries, allowed for a detailed description of the genomic structure of these communities and their kinship and social practices. We present a set of large pedigrees;
reconstructed using ancient DNA, spanning nine generations and comprising around 300 individuals.

Background: In-solution hybridization enrichment of genetic markers is a method of choice in paleogenomic studies, where the DNA of interest is generally heavily fragmented and contaminated with environmental DNA, and where the retrieval of genetic data comparable between individuals is challenging. Here, we benchmark the commercial "Twist Ancient DNA" reagent from Twist Biosciences using sequencing libraries from ancient human samples of diverse demographic origin with low to high endogenous DNA content (0.1-44%). For each library, we tested one and two rounds of enrichment and assessed performance compared to deep shotgun sequencing. Results: We find that the "Twist Ancient DNA" assay provides robust enrichment of approximately 1.2M target SNPs without introducing allelic bias that may interfere with downstream population genetics analyses. Additionally, we show that pooling up to 4 sequencing libraries and performing two rounds of enrichment is both reliable and cost-effective for libraries with less than 27% endogenous DNA content. Above 38% endogenous content, a maximum of one round of enrichment is recommended for cost-effectiveness and to preserve library complexity. Conclusions: In conclusion, we provide researchers in the field of human paleogenomics with a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and limitations of different sequencing and enrichment strategies, and our results offer practical guidance for optimizing experimental protocols.

This study examines how gender influenced funerary practices for children in Copper Age Iberian societies by analysing the biological sex of 35 non-adult individuals from the Copper Age necropolis of Humanejos. A combination of peptide-based analysis and ancient DNA (aDNA) profiling, osteological examination and the analysis of archaeological indicators, including grave goods, offer further context on social and cultural aspects of the burials. This multi-method approach reveals distinct burial patterns, most notably a marked absence of female individuals among those sexed and evidence that gender roles were ascribed at very early ages, consistent with biological sex determinations. Additionally, the analysis identifies specific funerary practices in which gender significantly influenced treatment, highlighting the symbolic importance of gender identity in burial contexts. These findings contribute new perspectives on social organization and the symbolic roles of children in Copper Age Iberia, offering a deeper understanding of how gender was constructed and represented in mortuary practices. The results enrich the understanding of childhood in prehistoric Iberia and challenge prior assumptions about the uniformity of burial customs across age and gender groups.

Para indagar sobre el impacto genético que habría generado la conquista hispánica en los grupos nativos asentados en el Paraná Medio e Inferior se analizaron muestras de individuos pre y posthispánicos de la región. Se identificaron los haplogrupos de ADN mitocondrial empelando Polimorfismos de Longitud de Fragmentos de Restricción (RFLP). Los datos obtenidos se compararon con los de otros sitios arqueológicos pre y posthispánicos y con muestras contemporáneas. Se observó mayor prevalencia del haplogrupo nativo B en las muestras posthispánicas, aunque sin diferenciación significativa con el grupo prehispánico de la región del Paraná Medio e Inferior. Ambos grupos presentan frecuencias de haplogrupos similares a muestras modernas provenientes del Gran Chaco y la provincia de Córdoba. Esto se corresponde con datos arqueológicos y de fuentes documentales de la reducción de Santiago del Baradero (provincia de Buenos Aires), con la prohibición de la salida de mujeres de la reducción y la...

Background: In-solution hybridization enrichment of genetic markers is a method of choice in paleogenomic studies, where the DNA of interest is generally heavily fragmented and contaminated with environmental DNA, and where the retrieval of genetic data comparable between individuals is challenging. Here, we benchmark the commercial "Twist Ancient DNA" reagent from Twist Biosciences using sequencing libraries from ancient human samples of diverse demographic origin with low to high endogenous DNA content (0.1-44%). For each library, we tested one and two rounds of enrichment and assessed performance compared to deep shotgun sequencing. Results: We find that the "Twist Ancient DNA" assay provides robust enrichment of approximately 1.2M target SNPs without introducing allelic bias that may interfere with downstream population genetics analyses. Additionally, we show that pooling up to 4 sequencing libraries and performing two rounds of enrichment is both reliable and cost-effective for libraries with less than 27% endogenous DNA content. Above 38% endogenous content, a maximum of one round of enrichment is recommended for cost-effectiveness and to preserve library complexity. Conclusions: In conclusion, we provide researchers in the field of human paleogenomics with a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and limitations of different sequencing and enrichment strategies, and our results offer practical guidance for optimizing experimental protocols.

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse global communities and 31 countries. All of us met in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research held in November 2020. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. Here we propose the following globally applicable guidelines, taking into consideration diverse contexts. These hold that: (1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; (2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; (3)