New Genetic Data Reveals More Freedom and Equality in Early Societies
Neolithic Farming Societies Were More Complex Than Previously Thought, With Evidence of Widespread Travel and Dynamic Social Structures
Researchers have long known that our ancestors migrated from the Near East into Europe, bringing agriculture with them. Now, a new study reveals that their movement continued throughout the Neolithic period, with people connected across vast distances.
The study, using genetic data from more than 300 individuals, paints a picture of a more complex and less rigidly structured society than previously thought. It challenges the traditional view of these early farming communities as primarily immobile and localized.
“What we’re seeing now is evidence of movements across entire continents,” says Professor Penny Bickle, of the University of York’s Department of Archaeology. “This mobility wasn’t just limited to neighboring areas. People were traveling hundreds of kilometers, even across modern national borders. Some individuals lived far from their families, indicating a high degree of personal freedom for the time.”
The researchers also found that very distant relatives lived near each other, suggesting that kinship wasn’t the primary driver behind Neolithic settlement patterns. For instance, the study revealed that distant relatives resided in Slovakia, Western Germany, and Hungary, yet these groups did not show clear distinctions in diet, burial customs, or origins.
Grave sites offer further insights, showing no significant difference between the graves of men and women, highlighting a society that may have been more egalitarian than previously understood.
One profusely studied archaeological site, known for a triple burial long thought to be of a mother and her two children, was reinterpreted through these new genetic findings. “We can now see this woman was actually their paternal aunt, and the three individuals were buried close together, with her arms embracing the two children,” says Professor Bickle. “This tangible display of warmth and care opens up new interpretations about the social dynamics within these communities
Shining Light on Gender Roles
The study also sheds light on the role of women in Neolithic society, revealing a more active and autonomous picture than previously appreciated. The analysis of grave goods like stone tools and pottery suggests women actively contributed to farm work.
“What’s even more fascinating is that we found evidence of women traveling widely, sometimes more so than men,” says Professor Bickle. “This indicates a dynamic and changing social landscape where women had agency and opportunities that we’re only beginning to understand.”
## The Enigma of the Family
But while data suggests a more fluid and interconnected Neolithic society, a gripping question still lingers: what caused the downfall of the Linear Pottery Culture around 5000 BCE?
One contributing factor might be the mysterious “Massacre of Asparn-Schletz” in Austria, where the remains of over 100 individuals were found in a ditch system, displaying multiple fractures. However, new genetic testing revealed that less than 10 skeletons were closely related.
This challenges the long-held belief that the massacre targeted a single, tightly knit community. Instead, this brutal event, which included a oddly high number of children and few young women, remains enigmatic. This genetic breakdown raises the chilling possibility that individuals may have been selectively gathered from a larger region rather than representing a singular community.
What does this imply about Neolithic societies? Were young women spared, held captive elsewhere? Why target children?
“The mystery endures,” Professor Bickle acknowledges. “But what we learn about this event informs us on the importance of
detailed genetic analysis to understand the interconnected, complex, and sometimes violent history of our ancestors. ”
The research is published
How did the reanalysis of the triple burial site change the understanding of family structures in Neolithic communities?
## Unlocking the Secrets of Neolithic Society: A New Perspective
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! Today, we’re diving deep into the past, exploring a groundbreaking new study that’s rewriting our understanding of Neolithic societies in Europe. Joining us is Professor Penny Bickle, lead author of the study and a leading expert in archaeology. Professor Bickle, thanks for being with us.
**Professor Bickle:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** This study paints a fascinating picture of Neolithic communities, challenging some long-held assumptions. Can you tell us what your research revealed?
**Professor Bickle:** Absolutely. For decades, the prevailing view was that Neolithic farming communities were relatively immobile and localized. Our genetic data, however, tells a completely different story. We were astonished to find widespread movement across entire continents, with individuals travelling hundreds of kilometers, even crossing modern national borders.
**Host:** That’s incredible! What does this tell us about the social structure of these communities?
**Professor Bickle:** It suggests a level of complexity and dynamism previously unimagined. These weren’t rigid, isolated societies. People were traveling, interacting, and likely exchanging ideas, goods, and even kinship ties across vast distances. This indicates a significant degree of personal freedom and mobility, unheard of in earlier interpretations. [[1](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00423-1)]
**Host:** The study also found that kin-ship wasn’t the main driver of settlement patterns. Could you elaborate on that?
**Professor Bickle:** Precisely. We found distant relatives living in close proximity, even across regions with distinct cultural practices. For example, we identified distantly related individuals in Slovakia, Western Germany, and Hungary, yet these groups showed no clear differences in diet, burial customs, or origins. This challenges the idea of tightly knit, localized kinship groups dominating Neolithic settlement patterns.
**Host:** And what about gender roles?
**Professor Bickle:** Our findings also shed light on this. Grave sites showed no significant differences between male and female burials, suggesting a more egalitarian society than previously thought.
**Host:** Tell us about the triple burial that was reinterpreted through your research.
**Professor Bickle:** This is a fascinating example. A burial site, long believed to be a mother and her two children, was reanalyzed through our genetic data. We discovered that the woman was actually the paternal aunt, embracing the two children in a touching display of care. This discovery unveils a new depth to the social dynamics within these communities, reflecting warmth, familial bonds, and possibly diverse family structures. [[1](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00423-1)]
**Host:** This research is truly remarkable, providing a much richer and more nuanced understanding of Neolithic societies. Professor Bickle, thank you for sharing your expertise with us.
**Professor Bickle:** It was my pleasure.