In the annals of Western Europe's Stone Age, blood relations and kinship were not the sole determinants shaping hunter-gatherer communities. A pioneering genetic study, conducted across revered French Stone Age burial grounds, unveils a deliberate social strategy aimed at avoiding inbreeding among distinct familial groups.
Led by researchers from Uppsala University in collaboration with esteemed French institutions, the study, published in the prestigious journal PNAS, delves into the genetic fabric of human skeletons unearthed at iconic sites like Téviec, Hoedic, and Champigny in Brittany, France. These remains, dating back approximately 6,700 years ago to the twilight of the Mesolithic era, offer a glimpse into the coexistence of hunter-gatherers and the emerging Neolithic farming communities.
For the first time, genomic analysis sheds light on the social dynamics of Stone Age populations cohabiting with their Neolithic counterparts. Professor Mattias Jakobsson, leading the study, emphasizes its significance in understanding the intricacies of last Stone Age hunter-gatherer societies in Western Europe.
Seven and a half millennia ago, as Neolithic farmers encroached upon Western Europe, questions arose regarding the interactions between these disparate groups. While previous studies hinted at deliberate assimilation of Neolithic women into hunter-gatherer communities, the latest research paints a different picture.
Contrary to assumptions, genomic analyses reveal that hunter-gatherer groups maintained distinct social units, displaying diverse dietary habits and a deliberate avoidance of inbreeding. Luciana G. Simões, the study's first author, highlights the absence of close kinship ties among individuals, suggesting a strategic social framework aimed at fostering genetic diversity.
Collaborating with French institutions including the University of Rennes and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris, the research scrutinizes burial practices at Téviec and Hoedic, revealing intriguing insights. Despite being interred together, individuals, including women and children, showed no biological kinship, underscoring the significance of non-biological social bonds extending beyond the grave.
Dr. Amélie Vialet from Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle emphasizes the importance of these findings, indicating that strong social relationships transcended biological ties, shaping Stone Age communities' dynamics long after death.
Through the lens of genetics, this study illuminates the nuanced social strategies of Stone Age hunter-gatherer communities, enriching our understanding of prehistoric human interactions in Western Europe.
