Kitti Köhler

Tracing the genetic origin of Europe's first farmers reveals insights into their social organization.

Farming was established in Central Europe by the Linearbandkeramik culture (LBK), a well-investigated archaeological horizon, which emerged in the Carpathian Basin, in todays Hungary. However, the genetic background of the LBK genesis is yet unclear. Here we present 9 Y chromosomal and 84 mitochondrial DNA profiles from Mesolithic, Neolithic Starčevo and LBK sites (seventh/sixth millennia BC) from the Carpathian Basin and southeastern Europe. We detect genetic continuity of both maternal and paternal elements during the initial spread of agriculture, and confirm the substantial genetic impact of early southeastern European and Carpathian Basin farming cultures on Central European populations of the sixth–fourth millennia BC. Comprehensive Y chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA population genetic analyses demonstrate a clear affinity of the early farmers to the modern Near East and Caucasus, tracing the expansion from that region through southeastern Europe and the Carpathian Basin into Central Europe. However, our results also reveal contrasting patterns for male and female genetic diversity in the European Neolithic, suggesting a system of patrilineal descent and patrilocal residential rules among the early farmers.

Parallel palaeogenomic transects reveal complex genetic history of early European farmers

Ancient DNA studies have established that Neolithic European populations were descended from Anatolian migrants who received a limited amount of admixture from resident hunter-gatherers. Many open questions remain, however, about the spatial and temporal dynamics of population interactions and admixture during the Neolithic period. Here we investigate the population dynamics of Neolithization across Europe using a high-resolution genome-wide ancient DNA dataset with a total of 180 samples, of which 130 are newly reported here, from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods of Hungary (6000–2900 bc, n = 100), Germany (5500–3000 bc, n = 42) and Spain (5500–2200 bc, n = 38). We find that genetic diversity was shaped predominantly by local processes, with varied sources and proportions of hunter-gatherer ancestry among the three regions and through time. Admixture between groups with different ancestry profiles was pervasive and resulted in observable population transformation across almost all cultural transitions. Our results shed new light on the ways in which gene flow reshaped European populations throughout the Neolithic period and demonstrate the potential of time-series-based sampling and modelling approaches to elucidate multiple dimensions of historical population interactions.

Immigration and transhumance in the early Bronze Age Carpathian Basin: the occupants of a Kurgan

You never know until you look. The authors deconstruct a kurgan burial mound in the Great Hungarian Plain designated to the Yamnaya culture, to find it was actually shared by a number of different peoples. The Yamnaya were an influential immigrant group of the Late Copper Age/Early Bronze Age transition. The burials, already characterised by their grave goods, were radiocarbon dated and further examined using stable isotope analysis on the human teeth. The revealing sequence began with a young person of likely local origin buried around or even before the late fourth millennium BC—a few centuries before the arrival of the Yamnaya. It ended around 500 years later with a group of different immigrants, apparently from the eastern mountains. These are explained as contacts built up between the mountains and the plain through the practice of transhumance.

Parallel ancient genomic transects reveal complex population history of early European farmers

Ancient DNA studies have established that European Neolithic populations were descended from Anatolian migrants who received a limited amount of admixture from resident hunter-gatherers. Many open questions remain, however, about the spatial and temporal dynamics of population interactions and admixture during the Neolithic period. Using the highest-resolution genomewide ancient DNA data set assembled to date—a total of 177 samples, 127 newly reported here, from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of Hungary (6000–2900 BCE, n = 98), Germany (5500–3000 BCE, n = 42), and Spain (5500–2200 BCE, n = 37)—we investigate the population dynamics of Neolithization across Europe. We find that genetic diversity was shaped predominantly by local processes, with varied sources and proportions of hunter-gatherer ancestry among the three regions and through time. Admixture between groups with different ancestry profiles was pervasive and resulted in observable population transformation across almost all cultural transitions. Our results shed new light on the ways that gene flow reshaped European populations throughout the Neolithic period and demonstrate the potential of time-series-based sampling and modeling approaches to elucidate multiple dimensions of historical population interactions.

Tuberculosis in Late Neolithic-Early Copper Age human skeletal remains from Hungary

Alsónyék-Bátaszék in Southern Hungary is one of the largest late Neolithic settlements and cemeteries excavated in Central Europe. In total, 2359 burials from the Late Neolithic - Early Copper Age Lengyel culture were found between 2006 and 2009 [1]. Anthropological investigations previously carried out on individuals from this site revealed an interesting paleopathological case of tuberculosis in the form of Potts disease dated to the early 5(th) millennium BC. In this study, selected specimens from this osteoarcheological series were subjected to paleomicrobiological analysis to establish the presence of MTBC bacteria. As all individuals showing clear osteological signs of TB infection belonged to a single grave group, 38 individuals from this grave group were analysed. The sample included the case of Potts disease as well as individuals both with and without osseous TB manifestations. The detection of TB DNA in the individual with Potts disease provided further evidence for the occurrence of TB in Neolithic populations of Europe. Moreover, our molecular analysis indicated that several other individuals of the same grave group were also infected with TB, opening the possibility for further analyses of this unique Neolithic skeletal series.

Präliminarien zur Sozialarchäologie des lengyelzeitlichen Gräberfeldes von Alsónyék-Bátaszék, Südtransdanubien

Im Beitrag wird der südtransdanubische Fundplatz Alsónyék-Bátaszék (Ungarn) vorgestellt, auf dem in den Jahren 2006–2009 nahezu 2500 Bestattungen und 60 Langhäuser der spätneolithisch-frühkupferzeitlichen Lengyel-Kultur ergraben und dokumentiert werden konnten. Im Mittelpunkt der Betrachtungen steht das der frühkupferzeitlichen Lengyel-Kultur zuzuweisende Grab 5603/927 mit der Bestattung eines Mannes. Dem Toten waren zahlreiche Beigaben in das Grab gegeben worden, unter anderem eine Steinaxt, ein Steinbeil und Silexmesser aus Importmaterial, ferner Kollektionen von Silexklingen und Trapezen sowie Geweih- und Knochengegenstände/-geräte (Geweihaxt, Schulterblatt und Geweihstab). Die auftretenden Gerätespektren werden gegliedert und ihre Stellung in der sozialen Hierarchie dieser wie auch vergleichbarer Gemeinschaften gedeutet. Für die Bestattung wird der Beleg geführt, dass der hier beigesetzte ältere Mann zu Lebzeiten sowohl auf örtliche und regionale Rohmaterialbezugszonen als auch auf jene des Fernhandels Zugriff hatte und wohl als Person zu deuten ist, die im Gefüge seiner Zeit eine bedeutende soziale Stellung einnahm. 1 Cet article présente le site d’Alsónyék-Bátaszék en Transdanubie méridionale (Hongrie) où, de 2006 à 2009, furent fouillées et documentées près de 2500 sépultures et 60 maisons longues de la culture de Lengyel du Néolithique tardif et du Chalcolithique précoce. Nos observations visent surtout la sépulture masculine 5603/927 1 Die vorliegende Arbeit ist ein Ergebnis interdisziplinärer Forschungen (Urgeschichte, Anthropologie, Archäozoologie und Silexkunde) des neolithischen Teams am Archäologischen Institut der Ungarischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Budapest. Zeichnungen: Fiorella Tortoriello und Kata Szilágyi, Fotos: Fanni Fazekas. que l’on peut attribuer à la phase chalcolithique précoce de la culture de Lengyel. De nombreux objets avaient été déposés auprès du défunt, entre autres une hache perforée en pierre, une hache en pierre et un couteau en silex importé (de Volhynie), des séries de lames et trapèzes en silex ainsi que des objets/outils en os et bois de cerf (hache et bâton en bois de cerf, omoplate). Les éventails d’outils en présence sont classés et l’on interprète ensuite leur rôle dans la hiérarchie sociale de cette communauté et d’autres qui lui sont comparables. Il est établi que l’homme âgé enterré ici avait accès de son vivant à des zones de matières premières locales et régionales ainsi qu’aux réseaux d’échanges à longue distance. Il s’agit vraisemblablement d’une personne qui occupait une position influente dans la société de son époque. This article presents the South Transdanubian site of Alsónyék-Bátaszék (Hungary) where nearly 2500 burials and 60 longhouses of the Late Neolithic–Early Copper Lengyel Culture were excavated and documented from 2006 until 2009. The focus of the article is on grave 5603/927 – the burial of a man attributed to the Early Copper Lengyel Culture. Numerous grave goods were present in his grave, among them a stone axe, a stone adze and silex knife made from imported material, as well as collections of silex blades and trapezes, antler and bone objects/tools (antler axe, scapula and antler staff). The paper categorises the tools and interprets their significance in the social hierarchy of this society and in comparable societies. Evidence is presented that the older man buried here held an important social position during his lifetime, someone who had access to local and regional sources of raw materials and also engaged in long-distance trade.

Possible cases of leprosy from the Late Copper Age (3780-3650 cal BC) in Hungary

At the Abony-Turjányos dűlő site, located in Central Hungary, a rescue excavation was carried out. More than 400 features were excavated and dated to the Protoboleráz horizon, at the beginning of the Late Copper Age in the Carpathian Basin, between 3780–3650 cal BC. Besides the domestic and economic units, there were two special areas, with nine-nine pits that differed from the other archaeological features of the site. In the northern pit group seven pits contained human remains belonging to 48 individuals. Some of them were buried carefully, while others were thrown into the pits. The aim of this study is to present the results of the paleopathological and molecular analysis of human remains from this Late Copper Age site. The ratio of neonates to adults was high, 33.3%. Examination of the skeletons revealed a large number of pathological cases, enabling reconstruction of the health profile of the buried individuals. Based on the appearance and frequency of healed ante- and peri mortem trauma, inter-personal (intra-group) violence was characteristic in the Abony Late Copper Age population. However other traces of paleopathology were observed on the bones that appear not to have been caused by warfare or inter-group violence. The remains of one individual demonstrated a rare set of bone lesions that indicate the possible presence of leprosy (Hansen’s disease). The most characteristic lesions occurred on the bones of the face, including erosion of the nasal aperture, atrophy of the anterior nasal spine, inflammation of the nasal bone and porosity on both the maxilla and the bones of the lower legs. In a further four cases, leprosy infection is suspected but other infections cannot be excluded. The morphologically diagnosed possible leprosy case significantly modifies our knowledge about the timescale and geographic spread of this specific infectious disease. However, it is not possible to determine the potential connections between the cases of possible leprosy and the special burial circumstances.

Hyperostosis frontalis interna in ancient populations from the Carpathian Basin – A possible relationship between lifestyle and risk of development

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) was examined in different periods of the Carpathian Basin from 4900 BCE to 17th century AD. The study seeks to evaluate temporal changes in HFI and the possible impact of lifestyle on it. MATERIALS The studied material consisted of 4668 crania from Hungary and Serbia. METHODS The crania were analyzed employing macroscopic and endoscopic examination. RESULTS In historic periods, sex and age played a pivotal role in HFI development. Among predominantly pastoralist populations of the 5th-8th and 10th centuries, prevalence of HFI was considerably higher than in the medieval populations of the 9th-17th centuries. CONCLUSIONS In addition to age and sex, other factors could be implicated in HFI development. The physiological effects of the pastoralist lifestyle and diet on insulin regulation could explain the increased risk of developing HFI in the 5th-8th and 10th-century populations. SIGNIFICANCE The study provides the first comprehensive dataset of HFI from different archaeological periods from the Carpathian Basin. It has implications for lifestyle and risk of HFI development in past populations. LIMITATIONS The archaeological periods are not equally represented. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH In order to better understand the etiology of HFI, lifestyle factors can be used to elucidate the risk of developing HFI in ancient populations.

Súlyos, fertőzéses eredetű csontelváltozás előfordulása a Kr. e. 6. évezred utolsó harmadában Versend-Gilencsa lelőhelyén

This article presents a new skeletal infection from the Middle Neolithic (Sopot culture) in the Carpathian Basin from the site of Versend-Gilencsa (6th millennium BC). The site yielded 27 burials from this period. During the biological anthropological and paleopathological examinations, the skeletal remains of an adult male (Grave 1078) displayed lesions: severe cavitation, collapse of vertebrae, hypervascularisation, inflammation on the sternum and periostitis on the long bones. Based on these alterations, the presence of atypical spinal tuberculosis or brucellos infection may be assumed in the community of Versend. The planned paleomicrobiological investigation may confirm the presumed diagnosis.