Dynamic changes in genomic and social structures in third millennium BCE central Europe
Science Advances, 2021
Europe's prehistory oversaw dynamic and complex interactions of diverse societies, hitherto u... more Europe's prehistory oversaw dynamic and complex interactions of diverse societies, hitherto unexplored at detailed regional scales. Studying 271 human genomes dated ~4900 to 1600 BCE from the European heartland, Bohemia, we reveal unprecedented genetic changes and social processes. Major migrations preceded the arrival of "steppe" ancestry, and at ~2800 BCE, three genetically and culturally differentiated groups coexisted. Corded Ware appeared by 2900 BCE, were initially genetically diverse, did not derive all steppe ancestry from known Yamnaya, and assimilated females of diverse backgrounds. Both Corded Ware and Bell Beaker groups underwent dynamic changes, involving sharp reductions and complete replacements of Y-chromosomal diversity at ~2600 and ~2400 BCE, respectively, the latter accompanied by increased Neolithic-like ancestry. The Bronze Age saw new social organization emerge amid a ≥40% population turnover.
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Papers by Michal Kostka
In the autumn of 1998, the archaeological department of the Museum of the Capital City of Prague excavated,
among others, 23 sunken features dating from the Bronze Age (Fig. 1–9; Table 1) near Rooseveltova Street in
Prague-Bubeneč. Only one of them (no. 48), which was detected near the southwestern edge of the excavation
area, belonged to the Únětice/Věteřov culture (Fig. 29); the others can predominantly be dated to the Late or possibly
Final Bronze Age. Analysis of characteristic ceramic material from the remaining 22 features (Fig. 10–28)
enabled to date them, in most cases, more precisely within the development of the Knovíz and Štítary cultures
(Table 2). An exception are features 22 and 28 which can only generally be dated to the time of the Knovíz
culture and feature 2 containing undistinguished pottery datable to the period from the early Knovíz culture
(an intrusion ?) up to the Štítary culture where it most probably belongs.
The overwhelming majority, i.e. 17 features, fall into the time period between the early Knovíz horizon Kn 2
and the early phase of the peak Knovíz horizon Kn 4a (after Smejtek 2007–2011), or rather to Br D – early Ha A2.
As these are predominantly storage pits (silos), it is reasonable to believe that their apparent spatial concentration
in the southeastern quadrant of the excavation area indicates part of a storage area of the Knovíz culture
settlement, while the residential area itself must have been located nearby. Both the later features are somewhat
outlying. They are located behind the northeastern edge of the earlier group, and the most northerly located
problematic feature 2 could be spatially and chronologically connected with them.
An archaeological excavation of the development area U zámeckého parku estate was carried out in
2005–06 at Prague 18 – Čakovice. The site is located north of the current village in fields
delimited by Schoellerova, Šircova, Tryskovická street and by the Mratínský stream in the south
(fig. 1). The main component of human activity represents the Late La-Tène settlement followed by
the settlement of the Early Roman Period. The Bronze Age is represented by the Únětice a Štítary
Culture settlement (Kostka 2007, 13–14).
The most distinctive and also the earliest example of rare funerary activity were two isolated
inhumation burials – features 123 and 180. The distance of both graves from Mratínský stream was
140 to 150 meters in the north direction. The distance between both burials was 12 m folowing the
north-west – south-east line (fig. 2). The feature 123 contained two skeletons, one of a male of
age group (40–60 years), stature about
183 cm with a robust figure. This individual was holding in its arms a sub-adult individual of age
group infans II (6 years), which is a child without sex determination (fig. 6–7) Feature 180
contained a female skeleton in age group maturus I (40–50 years). Both adult skeletons were buried
in crouched position, on their right side, head orientated to the south.
The analysis of the funerary rite and burial assemblage of the two burials it is possible to date
them to the very beginning of the Únětice Culture (Proto–Únětice), which is a complicated period of
the Final Eneo- lithic Period. An eloquent gesture of the buried man holding the child suggests
their close relationship and perhaps reflects strong emotive personal bond to the child, which was
perhaps mans offspring. However considering the average life expectancy of prehistoric populations
he might have rather been a grandfather. The relationship between buried man and woman and about
the interpretation of the event represented by
this group of burials we can only theoretically speculate.