Long-distance genetic relatedness in megalithic central Europe

Megalithic monuments in Late Neolithic Europe are often viewed as symbols of shared ancestry. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide data of 203 individuals buried in six megalithic grave complexes associated with the Western Funnel Beaker and Wartberg groups. Despite being considered archaeologically distinct, our results show that the studied individuals from both groups form a genetically homogeneous population. Moreover, we identified first- and second-degree relationships spanning up to 225 km, revealing unexpectedly long-distance ties and sustained intersite and intergroup mobility. The six grave complexes functioned as communal burial grounds and were not exclusively used for close genetic relatives, indicating that social kinship played an important role. Limited evidence for genetic connections to distant European megalithic populations indicates that monumentality spread culturally rather than through biological networks.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science
Published
2026-05-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aeb2926
Primary Topic
Forensic and Genetic Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Long-distance genetic relatedness in megalithic central Europe

Johannes Müller, Katharina Fuchs, Christian Meyer, Nicolas Antonio da Silva et al.
Science
Forensic and Genetic Research
article

Long-distance genetic relatedness in megalithic central Europe

Johannes Müller, Katharina Fuchs, Christian Meyer, Nicolas Antonio da Silva, John Meadows, Kerstin Schierhold, Christoph Rinne, Daniel Kolbe, Florian Klimscha, D. Myburgh, Ben Krause‐Kyora, Andre Franke, Robert Hoffmann, Michael Rind, Almut Nebel, Irina Görner
article en

Abstract

Megalithic monuments in Late Neolithic Europe are often viewed as symbols of shared ancestry. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide data of 203 individuals buried in six megalithic grave complexes associated with the Western Funnel Beaker and Wartberg groups. Despite being considered archaeologically distinct, our results show that the studied individuals from both groups form a genetically homogeneous population. Moreover, we identified first- and second-degree relationships spanning up to 225 km, revealing unexpectedly long-distance ties and sustained intersite and intergroup mobility. The six grave complexes functioned as communal burial grounds and were not exclusively used for close genetic relatives, indicating that social kinship played an important role. Limited evidence for genetic connections to distant European megalithic populations indicates that monumentality spread culturally rather than through biological networks.

ScienceVol. 392(6800)
Lower Saxony State Museum (DE), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE), Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (DE), Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen (DE)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Forensic and Genetic Research
DOISourceOpenAlex
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