Tracing social mechanisms and interregional connections in Early Bronze Age Societies in Lower Austria
In this study, we present the results of archaeogenetic investigations of Early Bronze Age individuals from Lower Austria, specifically associated with the Únětice and Unterwölbling cultural groups. Through analysing newly generated genome-wide data of 129 individuals, we explore the social structure and genetic relationships within and between these communities. Our results reveal a predominantly patrilocal society with non-strict female exogamic practices. Additionally, Identity-by-Descent analysis detects long-distance genetic connections, emphasizing the complex network of interactions in Central Europe during this period. Despite shared social dynamics, notable genetic distinctions emerge between the Únětice and Unterwölbling groups. These insights contribute to our understanding of Bronze Age population interconnections and call for a nuanced interpretation of social dynamics in this historical context.
Authors
- Nadin Rohland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-9601)
- Katharina Rebay‐Salisbury (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0126-8693)
- Kristin Stewardson
- Gunnar U. Neumann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3825-8536)
- Harald Ringbauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4884-9682)
- Alissa Mittnik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6963-4824)
- Ron Pinhasi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1629-8131)
- Guillermo Bravo Morante (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1544-9279)
- Friederike Novotny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7368-2020)
- Rita Radzevičiūtė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5800-3787)
- Elizabeth Curtis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0263-0765)
- Philipp W. Stockhammer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4702-9372)
- Raffaela A. Bianco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6087-8031)
- Fatma Zalzala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8981-1277)
- Kim Callan
- FURTWÄNGLER Anja
- Domnika Verdianu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4044-6480)
- Johannes Krause
- Rodrigo go Barquera
- Kanz Fabian
- David Reich
- Anna Wagner
- Tanja Schmidt
- Michaela Spannagel
- Olivia Cheronet
- Maria Teschler-Nicola
- Lora Iliev
- Lijun Qiu
- J. Noah Workman
- Lena Semerau
Institutions
- Broad Institute (US)
- Natural History Museum Vienna (AT)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (AT)
- KHM-Museumsverband (AT)
- Max Planck - Harvard Research Center for the Archaeoscience of the Ancient Mediterranean (DE)
- Institute for Social Anthropology (AT)
- Evolutionary Genomics (United States) (US)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology (AT)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67906-y
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- John Templeton Foundation
- European Commission
- National Institutes of Health