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Genetic Research on Stone Age Tombs Shows Woman-Led Social Organization and Clans Defined by Maternal, Not Paternal Lineage
During excavations in Shandong Province, eastern China, researchers discovered signs of an ancient society led by women. The revelation came with a genetic study conducted on Stone Age remains.
The work analyzed 60 skeletons and indicated that the social organization followed an unusual logic: the maternal lineage was the central factor.
Two Distinct Maternal Clans
The excavations took place in the Fujia region. Scientists located more than 500 tombs dating from 2750 to 2500 B.C. These tombs were distributed in two cemeteries separated by about 100 meters, near an ancient settlement.
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Of the 60 individuals analyzed, 14 were from the northern cemetery and 46 from the southern one. The mitochondrial DNA — inherited only from the mother — revealed that all from the north belonged to the M8a3 group.
Meanwhile, 44 of the 46 from the south were from the D5b1b group. This indicates that each cemetery was occupied by a clan with a specific maternal lineage.
On the other hand, the Y chromosomes — inherited from the paternal side — showed great variety. This shows that the fathers came from various origins, but belonging to the group always came from the mother. In other words, even men were buried according to their maternal lineage.
Tradition Lasted Centuries
The practice of burying members of the maternal clan in separate cemeteries was maintained for at least ten generations, which is about 300 years.
This rigid burial pattern makes the discovery especially relevant for understanding how certain ancient societies functioned.
The study also pointed to a relatively high rate of endogamy, with marriages between second or third cousins.
Only four cases indicated unions between closer relatives. This characteristic is common in small, isolated human groups.
Rare Society in Archaeological History
According to the authors, social structures like this are very rare. Cases of matrilinearity had been identified before in places like Chaco Canyon in North America and among Celtic elites in southern Germany. There are also records among Iron Age tribes in the United Kingdom.
However, the case of Fujia is older than all of these. At about 4,750 years old, it represents the most rigid and long-lasting maternal model ever documented through DNA.
Research May Reveal Broader Pattern
According to Yu Dong from Shandong University (China), the finding shows a rare and exciting social model in Neolithic China.
The team suggests that further excavations and genetic analyses in East Asia may reveal whether the maternal organization of Fujia was an exception or part of a larger culture in the region.
With information from Super Interessante.
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