Discovery of Old DNA in Copper Age Child's Bones Unearths Surprising Links to European Lineage
In a groundbreaking discovery, a Copper Age infant's remains, found in a well near Faenza, Italy, have provided rare insights into prehistoric populations, thanks to an interdisciplinary approach that combined traditional osteological analysis with cutting-edge techniques like paleoproteomics and biogeochemistry.
The remains, dating back approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years, were initially revealed to be fragile and poorly preserved. However, researchers from the University of Bologna employed several advanced scientific techniques to extract meaningful data from the infant's remains.
1. DNA Analysis: Researchers extracted genetic material from the remains and analysed it to identify the infant's genetic lineage. This revealed a rare maternal lineage, not commonly found in other Copper Age European populations, suggesting complex population movements and genetic diversity during that period. DNA sequencing also confirmed the infant's sex as male.
2. Proteomic Analysis: Scientists examined enamel peptide profiles (proteomics) to corroborate DNA findings, such as confirming biological sex. This method is particularly useful when DNA preservation is poor, as proteins can sometimes survive longer than DNA in ancient remains. Proteomics supported the genetic data and allowed confirmation even when collagen-based radiocarbon dating was unsuccessful.
3. Enamel Histology: Microstructural analysis of tooth enamel helped reconstruct aspects of the infant’s development and health, providing clues about diet, stress, and developmental timing during early life. This technique can offer a window into the living conditions and physiological state of prehistoric individuals, especially infants with fragile remains.
4. Radiocarbon Dating Attempts: Although attempts to directly date the remains using radiocarbon methods failed due to poor collagen preservation, nearby ceramic fragments helped date the burial context broadly between 3600 and 2300 BCE (Copper Age timeframe).
5. Contextual Archaeological Analysis: The burial was found in an unusual context—a well, rather than a formal grave—making it atypical for Copper Age burials in Italy. This suggested different cultural or ritual practices might have been at play, and without more graves for comparison, this case remains unique. The ceramic context helped frame the temporal setting of the burial.
The discovery and analysis of this infant illuminate a rare genetic lineage that hints at more complex prehistoric population dynamics in early Italy than previously thought. It suggests that Copper Age groups in this region had genetic inputs from diverse sources, and population structures were likely more intricate.
Proteomic and enamel histology approaches demonstrate that even fragmented and poorly preserved infant remains can yield critical insights into ancestry, biological sex, health, and living conditions in ancient times. The atypical burial in a well points to potentially varied cultural practices around death and burial at the time, encouraging archaeologists to reconsider assumptions about Copper Age funerary customs.
The research underscores the broader archaeological importance of infants, who are often overlooked due to poor preservation, but who can provide unique data on prehistoric lifeways and population histories. The infant did not show signs of malnutrition or developmental stress during its early years, suggesting a relatively healthy start to life.
The presence of such a rare haplogroup challenges our perceptions of the geographic reach and movement of populations in the Copper Age. The haplogroup V+@72 is very rare in modern European populations. The infant's remains were associated with the Saami people of northern Europe and populations along the Cantabrian coast in Spain, suggesting long-distance connections between populations of that region and those in the far north of the continent, particularly areas beyond the Alps.
In summary, the combination of DNA, proteomics, and enamel histology, supplemented by archaeological context, allowed researchers to glean new details from the fragmented bones and teeth. This multidisciplinary approach is setting new standards for studying prehistoric populations, especially in complex cases where remains are damaged or atypically deposited. The discovery offers a glimpse into a more interconnected ancient Europe.
- This groundbreaking study, combining traditional and advanced scientific techniques like DNA analysis, proteomics, and enamel histology, provides essential insights into the education-and-self-development of prehistoric communities, revealing a previously unrecognized genetic lineage related to the Saami people and Cantabrian coast populations.
- The infant's remains, having undergone advanced medical-conditions analysis, did not show signs of malnutrition or developmental stress during early life, indicating a generally healthy start to life, thanks to advancements in technology that enabled researchers to extract valuable data from supposedly fragile and poorly preserved remains.
