The most recent genetic research has revolutionized our understanding of Neolithic societies, revealing a more complex and diverse landscape than traditionally conceived. Studies conducted by an interdisciplinary team from the universities of York, Vienna, and Harvard have shown that these communities were not only marked by mobility and interconnectedness but also by a surprising degree of social equality and individual freedom.

Historically, it was known that early farmers migrated from the Near East to Europe, bringing agricultural innovations with them. However, this new study has demonstrated that mobility continued during the Neolithic period, indicating that people traveled long distances and maintained extensive social networks. Through genetic analysis of over 300 individuals, researchers discovered that many people lived far from their families, suggesting societies less restricted by geographic proximity.

The analysis of over 250 individuals belonging to the Linear Pottery Culture allowed researchers to observe that this group expanded over hundreds of kilometers in just a few generations. Despite this geographic spread, burials showed no significant differences in grave goods, diet, or origins of individuals, regardless of gender. This finding suggests that men and women enjoyed equitable treatment, at least in terms of funerary practices.

Neolithic Europe Equality
Map of the LBK culture and the studied sites. Credit: P. Gelabert et al.

In addition, a notable example of familial connection comes from a triple burial, initially believed to involve a mother and her two children, but which turned out to be of a paternal aunt and her nephews. The woman’s arms, placed protectively around the children, reflect a profound act of care and highlight the importance of extended family ties in these communities.

Archaeological and genetic data also reveal a more active role for women in agriculture than previously thought. Stone tools and pottery found at burial sites suggest that women actively participated in farming tasks, with some traveling more extensively than men, while others stayed close to their places of origin.

The disappearance of the Linear Pottery Culture around 5000 BCE remains a mystery. One theory suggests its decline was marked by periods of violence, as evidenced by the Asparn-Schletz massacre in Austria, where over 100 individuals were found in a pit system with multiple fractures in their skeletons. However, new genetic analysis revealed that fewer than 10 of these people were related to each other, challenging the idea of an attack on a specific community.

Neolithic Europe Equality
Skeletons from the Asparn-Schletz Massacre. Credit: State Collections of Lower Austria

The massacre also raises questions about the absence of young women among the remains and the predominance of children among the victims. These puzzles fuel debate about the possible reasons behind this act of violence and its significance in the context of this community’s end.

Professor Penny Bickle, one of the lead researchers, emphasized that the concept of gender in Neolithic societies was far more dynamic than previously assumed. Her current research explores how women were valued and how their roles evolved as agriculture expanded across Europe. The findings challenge static conceptions of gender and show that societies throughout history have responded in diverse ways to cultural and economic transformations.

This study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Human Behaviour, represents a significant advancement in our understanding of Neolithic societies and their complex social dynamics. Through meticulous analysis of genetic and archaeological data, researchers have painted a vibrant portrait of these communities, underscoring their mobility, equality, and the importance of family connections.

SOURCES

University of York

Gelabert, P., Bickle, P., Hofmann, D. et al. Social and genetic diversity in first farmers of central Europe. Nat Hum Behav (2024). doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02034-z

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