Sample size is three:
We reproducibly retrieved partial HVR-I sequences (nps 16,165 to 16,390) from three human remains (Prisse´ 1, 2, and 4, Table 1), one adult and two children deposited during different stages of use of the burial chamber. Corresponding sequences could be unambiguously assigned to haplogroups X2, U5b, and N1a
Marie-France Deguilloux et al.
News from the west: Ancient DNA from a French megalithic burial chamber. American Journal of Physical Anthropology DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21376.
Recent paleogenetic studies have confirmed that the spread of the Neolithic across Europe was neither genetically nor geographically uniform. To extend existing knowledge of the mitochondrial European Neolithic gene pool, we examined six samples of human skeletal material from a French megalithic long mound (c.4200 cal BC). We retrieved HVR-I sequences from three individuals and demonstrated that in the Neolithic period the mtDNA haplogroup N1a, previously only known in central Europe, was as widely distributed as western France. Alternative scenarios are discussed in seeking to explain this result, including Mesolithic ancestry, Neolithic demic diffusion, and long-distance matrimonial exchanges. In light of the limited Neolithic ancient DNA (aDNA) data currently available, we observe that all three scenarios appear equally consistent with paleogenetic and archaeological data. In consequence, we advocate caution in interpreting aDNA in the context of the Neolithic transition in Europe. Nevertheless, our results strengthen conclusions demonstrating genetic discontinuity between modern and ancient Europeans whether through migration, demographic or selection processes, or social practices.
Full article: http://secher.bernard.free.fr/Articles/Megalithic_mtdna.pdf
ReplyDeleteBeside genetic, there is no description of the bones to infer size or cranium type. From the picture, the long bones suggest pretty tall individuals.
ReplyDeleteThey say the mitochondrial DNA suggest matrimonial 'exchanges' from central europa but then they should have said what was supposed to be the local mDNA. We just know that they are different from todays europeans and french people. Interesting article anyway. It's good when french researchers dig in the french dna past. That defines a french 'ancestry', a notion highly unpolitically correct. Current french PCness claims that there is no such thing as a french 'nation', no such thing as a 'french people' and therefore no such thing as a french ancestry.
our results strengthen conclusions demonstrating genetic discontinuity between modern and ancient Europeans whether through migration, demographic or selection processes, or social practices.
ReplyDeleteThe results demonstrate that some new racial strains were present in Europe, which no one has ever disputed. Weren't these mounds associated with the so-called "Bell Beaker" seafarers?
If these Neolithic migrants racially-replaced all of Europe, then Cro-Magnon types would be extinct today. But they are not; CM remains the "basic white" type.
Physical Anthropology cannot be lawyerspeaked away using genetic jargon.
The fallacy here is this: Say we find a series of Viking burial mounds in Ukraine and immediately we take this as evidence that Vikings completely racially-replaced the native Slav stock down there. No; Vikings were there, is what the burials prove. Nothing more. They had but a marginal impact on the Ukraine gene pool.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably the case for these mound people in France as well.
(As you can tell, I am a firm believe in basic Paleolithic Continuity.)