SHG30062 - Building tombs and entombing the dead as technologies of descent and affinity in Neolithic northern Scotland (Antiquity Vol. 100 (410) pp.324-339)
| Type | Text/Publication/Article |
|---|---|
| Title | Building tombs and entombing the dead as technologies of descent and affinity in Neolithic northern Scotland (Antiquity Vol. 100 (410) pp.324-339) |
| Author/Originator | Cummings, C, Fowler, C., Olade, I., Cuthbert, S. and Reich, D. |
| Date/Year | 2026 |
Abstract/Summary
When grounded within relevant archaeological contexts, ancient DNA analysis can provide critical insights into prehistoric human populations. This is demonstrated in this article, where the authors examine the genetic relatedness of individuals whose remains were placed in five Neolithic tombs in Caithness and Orkney, northern Scotland. The results reveal a web of biological ties that, the authors argue, suggests sustained contact between these communities beyond the onset of the Neolithic and shared understandings of kinship, including descent and a sense of affinity, but emerging local differences in how kinship was materialised through monumental architecture.
External Links (1)
- https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10291 (View and download published article online)
Description
Referenced Monuments (4)
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