Janusz Piontek

Natural Selection and Morphological Variability: The Case of Europe From Neolithic to Modern Times [and Comments and Reply]

Two hypotheses concerning the influence of natural selection intensity on intra- and interpopulational variability of metric characteristics of the human skull ar tested. Using data on 58 series from Europe and its environs dating from Neolithic to modern times, it has been found that with the decline of the decline of the intensity of operation of natural selection (1) intragroup variability increases, (2) intergroup variability decreases, and (3) there is a trend toward shorter, wider, and lower braincase and shorter upper face.

Investigating kinship of Neolithic post-LBK human remains from Krusza Zamkowa, Poland using ancient DNA

We applied an interdisciplinary approach to investigate kinship patterns and funerary practices during the middle Neolithic. Genetic studies, radiocarbon dating, and taphonomic analyses were used to examine two grave clusters from Krusza Zamkowa, Poland. To reconstruct kinship and determine biological sex, we extracted DNA from bones and teeth, analyzed mitochondrial genomes and nuclear SNPs using the HID-Ion AmpliSeq™ Identity panel generated on Illumina and Ion Torrent platforms, respectively. We further dated the material (AMS 14C) and to exclude aquatic radiocarbon reservoir effects, measures of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for diet reconstruction were used. We found distinct mitochondrial genomes belonging to haplogroups U5b2a1a, K1c and H3d in the first grave cluster, and excluded maternal kin patterns among the three analyzed individuals. In the second grave cluster one individual belonged to K1a4. However, we could not affiliate the second individual to a certain haplogroup due to the fragmented state of the mitochondrial genome. Although the individuals from the second grave cluster differ at position 6643, we believe that more data is needed to fully resolve this issue. We retrieved between 26 and 77 autosomal SNPs from three of the individuals. Based on kinship estimations, taking into account the allelic dropout distribution, we could not exclude first degree kin relation between the two individuals from the second grave cluster. We could, however, exclude a first degree kinship between these two individuals and an individual from the first grave cluster. Presumably, not only biological kinship, but also social relations played an important role in the funerary practice during this time period. We further conclude that the HID-Ion AmpliSeq™ Identity Panel may prove useful for first degree kin relation studies for samples with good DNA preservation, and that mitochondrial genome capture enrichment is a powerful tool for excluding direct maternal relationship in ancient individuals.

Ancient DNA Reveals Matrilineal Continuity in Present- Day Poland over the Last Two Millennia

While numerous ancient human DNA datasets from across Europe have been published till date, modern-day Poland in particular, remains uninvestigated. Besides application in the reconstruction of continent-wide human history, data from this region would also contribute towards our understanding of the history of the Slavs, whose origin is hypothesized to be in East or Central Europe. Here, we present the first population-scale ancient human DNA study from the region of modern-day Poland by establishing mitochondrial DNA profiles for 23 samples dated to 200 BC – 500 AD (Roman Iron Age) and for 20 samples dated to 1000–1400 AD (Medieval Age). Our results show that mitochondrial DNA sequences from both periods belong to haplogroups that are characteristic of contemporary West Eurasia. Haplotype sharing analysis indicates that majority of the ancient haplotypes are widespread in some modern Europeans, including Poles. Notably, the Roman Iron Age samples share more rare haplotypes with Central and Northeast Europeans, whereas the Medieval Age samples share more rare haplotypes with East-Central and South-East Europeans, primarily Slavic populations. Our data demonstrates genetic continuity of certain matrilineages (H5a1 and N1a1a2) in the area of present-day Poland from at least the Roman Iron Age until present. As such, the maternal gene pool of present-day Poles, Czechs and Slovaks, categorized as Western Slavs, is likely to have descended from inhabitants of East-Central Europe during the Roman Iron Age.

Geometric morphometrics: does the appearance of the septal aperture depend on the shape of ulnar processes?

Many theories have been suggested to explain the etiology of septal apertures (SA) of the humerus. The influence of genes, the size of ulnar processes, joint laxity, and bone robusticity, have been discussed; however, the problem has not yet been solved. The main aim of this study was to examine the influence of ulnar and humeri shape on septal aperture formation, using geometric morphometric analyses. Skeletal material from an early‐mediaeval cemetery located in Western Poland was used. The material comprised two groups: (1) ulnae and humeri with septal apertures, (2) ulnae and humeri without septal apertures. From a CT image, three‐dimensional reconstructions were obtained for all bones. Then, 25 landmarks were distributed on each proximal end of the ulnae and 30 landmarks on the distal ends of the humeri. Shape differences between ulnae in joints with and without SA were significant for the left and right sides of the body. The shapes of the left and right distal ends of humeri with SA differed significantly from those without SA. Similar results were obtained for the right side of the body. Ulnae from joints with SA were characterized by a more pronounced olecranon process, a smaller articulated coronoid process and a more tightly curved trochlear notch than ulnae from joints without SA. Humeri with SA included wider and deeper olecranon fossae and smaller and less curved articular surfaces. These results partly coincide with the results of other research indicating the influence of olecranon processes on lamina perforation. Anat Rec, 298:2030–2038, 2015.

Shape and size of the body vs. musculoskeletal stress markers.

The objective of this paper is to assess the relationship between the degree of development of muscle attachment sites (musculoskeletal stress markers - MSM1) and the length and circumference measurements of long bones and the body build expressed with the reconstructed values of body height (BH) and body mass (BM). The bone material (102 male and 99 female skeletons) used in the study was collected in the medieval burial ground in Cedynia, Poland. The authors analyzed 10 musculoskeletal stress markers located on the scapula (2), humerus (2), radius (2), femur (2) and tibia (2). The frequency and the degree of expression of muscle attachment size was carried out using the scale prepared by Myszka (2007). The scale encompassed three degrees of expression of muscle attachment size. Only changes of robusticity type (nonpathological changes) were taken into account. The assessment of body build of individuals was carried out according to the method proposed by Vancata & Charvátová (2001). Body height was reconstructed from the length of the humerus and femur using eight equations. Body mass was reconstructed from the measurements of the breadth of the proximal and distal sections of the femur and tibia (mechanical method) using twenty one equations. The equations were developed for different reference populations. The same equations were used for men and women. The correlation between the MSM and the length and circumference measurements of the bones was analyzed using the principal components analysis and the Gamma correlation coefficient. The strength of the correlation between the reconstructed body build traits (BH, BM) and the moderate degree of musculoskeletal stress markers expression was studied based on the principal components method and the Pearson correlation coefficient. A linear correlation was found between musculoskeletal stress markers and the circumference measurements and the reconstructed body mass, but no relationship with body height and the length measurements of long bones was revealed. From previous research it is evident that the relationship between the MSM and metric skeletal traits does not occur in every population. Divergent findings necessitate further corroboration of results on diverse skeletal material.

Diverse origin of mitochondrial lineages in Iron Age Black Sea Scythians

Scythians were nomadic and semi-nomadic people that ruled the Eurasian steppe during much of the first millennium BCE. While having been extensively studied by archaeology, very little is known about their genetic identity. To fill this gap, we analyzed ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Scythians of the North Pontic Region (NPR) and successfully retrieved 19 whole mtDNA genomes. We have identified three potential mtDNA lineage ancestries of the NPR Scythians tracing back to hunter-gatherer and nomadic populations of east and west Eurasia as well as the Neolithic farming expansion into Europe. One third of all mt lineages in our dataset belonged to subdivisions of mt haplogroup U5. A comparison of NPR Scythian mtDNA linages with other contemporaneous Scythian groups, the Saka and the Pazyryks, reveals a common mtDNA package comprised of haplogroups H/H5, U5a, A, D/D4, and F1/F2. Of these, west Eurasian lineages show a downward cline in the west-east direction while east Eurasian haplogroups display the opposite trajectory. An overall similarity in mtDNA lineages of the NPR Scythians was found with the late Bronze Age Srubnaya population of the Northern Black Sea region which supports the archaeological hypothesis suggesting Srubnaya people as ancestors of the NPR Scythians.

Late Danubian mitochondrial genomes shed light into the Neolithisation of Central Europe in the 5th millennium BC

BackgroundRecent aDNA studies are progressively focusing on various Neolithic and Hunter - Gatherer (HG) populations, providing arguments in favor of major migrations accompanying European Neolithisation. The major focus was so far on the Linear Pottery Culture (LBK), which introduced the Neolithic way of life in Central Europe in the second half of 6th millennium BC. It is widely agreed that people of this culture were genetically different from local HGs and no genetic exchange is seen between the two groups. From the other hand some degree of resurgence of HGs genetic component is seen in late Neolithic groups belonging to the complex of the Funnel Beaker Cultures (TRB). Less attention is brought to various middle Neolithic cultures belonging to Late Danubian sequence which chronologically fall in between those two abovementioned groups. We suspected that genetic influx from HG to farming communities might have happened in Late Danubian cultures since archaeologists see extensive contacts between those two communities.ResultsHere we address this issue by presenting 5 complete mitochondrial genomes of various late Danubian individuals from modern-day Poland and combining it with available published data. Our data show that Late Danubian cultures are maternally closely related to Funnel Beaker groups instead of culturally similar LBK.ConclusionsWe assume that it is an effect of the presence of individuals belonging to U5 haplogroup both in Late Danubians and the TRB. The U5 haplogroup is thought to be a typical for HGs of Europe and therefore we argue that it is an additional evidence of genetic exchange between farming and HG groups taking place at least as far back as in middle Neolithic, in the Late Danubian communities.

Body mass index values of conscripts in the Polish lands under Prussian rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

The Body Mass Index (BMI) of conscripts from the Polish lands under Prussian rule and its causative factors and changes over time was to characterize. A total of 9965 conscripts aged 20 were examined. Differences in the mean BMI were tested using one-way analysis of variance ANOVA and Tukeys-test (post-hoc test). Factor analysis and multiple regression were employed. The highest BMI values characterized sons of peasants, workers and craftsmen, and the lowest, sons of intelligentsia: the difference for peasants/intelligentsia -0.59kg/m(2) (p=0.0004), and that for workers/intelligentsia and craftsmen/intelligentsia, 0.48 and 0.5kg/m(2) (p=0.0004 and p=0.0057, respectively). The difference in BMI of conscripts from the first and last birth cohorts was 0.61kg/m(2) (p=0.0001). The highest BMI values were noted in conscripts from villages (21.50kg/m(2)), and the lowest, in those from towns (21.15kg/m(2)) and cities (21.19kg/m(2)). The differences for village/town and village/city were statistically significant (p=0.0026 and p=0.0026, respectively). The BMI difference between Poles and Germans was 0.35kg/m(2) (higher value among Poles).

Intergenerational Changes in the Biological Dynamics of Populations from Southern Poland in the 20th Century

Abstract The study material contained questionnaires with questions referring to three generations of women living in two geographical regions of Poland, Podbeskidzie (313 families) and Podkarpacie (437 families). By computing fertility rates, we attempted to find out whether there were any regional factors determining the biological dynamics of these populations in the 20th century. We were also looking for an answer to the question whether living conditions specific for functioning in various types of population clusters (such as village, town, and city) had an effect on the fertility and mortality levels in the families of the subjects of the study The dynamic nature of the processes associated with fertility and mortality on the population level was studied with the use of the index of opportunity for natural selection . Populations inhabiting the geographical regions under study were similar in terms of the mean number of children in families that had finished reproduction. The intergenerational comparison revealed a significant decline in the total fertility rate in all subgroups formed by size of population cluster. The analysis of the data for the generations of the subjects’ mothers and grandmothers showed a distinct decline in child mortality rate. The increase in the fertility rate in the generation of the subjects’ mothers may be explained with improving social care provided by the state at that time.

Social context of the unchambered megalithic long barrows in Middle Pomerania, Poland

Abstract This paper is an attempt at defining the social functions of the unchambered megalithic long barrows found in the Łupowa group of the Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB). The authors assume that their aim can be achieved by employing a cultural ecological approach, which leads to a determination of the following variables: exploitation efficiency of the local population, local territory, and size of that population. The values determined for these variables imply that only a small, limited number of the deceased members of the group were buried in the long barrows discussed. Thus, it is possible that burial functions were not the only and most important ones. The authors try to define the remaining functions of the long barrows.