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Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty.

ABSTRACT: For societies with writing systems, hereditary leadership is documented as one of the hallmarks of early political complexity and governance. In contrast, it is unknown whether hereditary succession played a role in the early formation of prehistoric complex societies that lacked writing. Here we use an archaeogenomic approach to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon, the centre of an expansive prehistoric complex society in the Southwestern United States. We show that nine individuals buried in an elite crypt at Pueblo Bonito, the largest structure in the canyon, have identical mitochondrial genomes. Analyses of nuclear genome data from six samples with the highest DNA preservation demonstrate mother-daughter and grandmother-grandson relationships, evidence for a multigenerational matrilineal descent group. Together, these results demonstrate the persistence of an elite matriline in Chaco for ?330 years.

SUBMITTER: Kennett DJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5321759 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty.

Kennett Douglas J DJ Plog Stephen S George Richard J RJ Culleton Brendan J BJ Watson Adam S AS Skoglund Pontus P Rohland Nadin N Mallick Swapan S Stewardson Kristin K Kistler Logan L LeBlanc Steven A SA Whiteley Peter M PM Reich David D Perry George H GH

Nature communications 20170221

For societies with writing systems, hereditary leadership is documented as one of the hallmarks of early political complexity and governance. In contrast, it is unknown whether hereditary succession played a role in the early formation of prehistoric complex societies that lacked writing. Here we use an archaeogenomic approach to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon, the centre of an expansive prehistoric complex society in the Southwestern United St ...[more]

PMID: 28221340

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Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty.

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Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty.

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