Ancient DNA reveals diverse community organizations in the 5th millennium BCE Carpathian Basin
Little is known about the genetic connection system and community organization of Late Neolithic and Early Copper Age populations of the Carpathian Basin. Here, we present a comprehensive genetic investigation of these populations, leveraging whole genome data from 125 individuals. Using population genetics, kinship analyses and the study of networks of identity-by-descent haplotype segment sharing, we elucidate the social and genetic dynamics of these communities between 4800-3900 calibrated years BCE. Despite changes in settlement patterns, burial practices, and material culture, we document a high degree of genetic continuity. While one set of individuals from a large community cemetery is genetically diverse, another site is more homogenous and closed, with numerous consanguineous relationships and evidence of patrilineality and patrilocality. In this work, we document important differences in kinship systems in contemporaneous Early Copper Age communities using similar material culture and living only about 100 km apart.
Authors
- Ali Akbari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5000-5876)
- Nadin Rohland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-9601)
- David Reich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7037-5292)
- Zsuzsanna M. Virág (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5332-3810)
- Alexandra Anders (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6652-3902)
- Harald Ringbauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4884-9682)
- Tamás Szeniczey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-7140)
- Krisztián Kiss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9371-3397)
- Cristian Virag (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7867-7498)
- Pál Raczky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5556-723X)
- Ron Pinhasi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1629-8131)
- Swapan Mallick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4531-4439)
- Olivia Cheronet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6760-1204)
- Tamás Hajdu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3604-1125)
- Anna Szécsényi‐Nagy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2095-738X)
- Sándor Évinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8974-9848)
- Zsuzsanna Siklósi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6451-5578)
- Tamás Keszi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0954-0818)
- Kristóf Jakab
Institutions
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- Broad Institute (US)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Miskolc (HU)
- Hungarian Natural History Museum (HU)
- Harvard University Press (US)
- Hungarian National Museum (HU)
- Institute of Human Sciences (AT)
- Budapest History Museum (HU)
- Technosam (Romania) (RO)
- Evolutionary Genomics (United States) (US)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities (HU)
- National Research, Development and Innovation Office (HU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-06-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60368-2
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.45