Autor(es):
Teschler-Nicola, Maria ; Fernandes, Daniel ; Händel, Marc ; Einwögerer, Thomas ; Simon, Ulrich ; Neugebauer-Maresch, Christine ; Tangl, Stefan ; Heimel, Patrick ; Dobsak, Toni ; Retzmann, Anika ; Prohaska, Thomas ; Irrgeher, Johanna ; Kennett, Douglas J. ; Olalde, Iñigo ; Reich, David ; Pinhasi, Ron
Data: 2020
Identificador Persistente: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/105871
Origem: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Assunto(s): Burial; DNA; History, Ancient; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Paleontology; Twins, Monozygotic
Descrição
The Upper Palaeolithic double burial of newborns and the single burial of a ca. 3-month-old infant uncovered at the Gravettian site of Krems-Wachtberg, Austria, are of paramount importance given the rarity of immature human remains from this time. Genome-wide ancient DNA shows that the male infants of the double grave are the earliest reported case of monozygotic twins, while the single grave´s individual was their 3rd-degree male relative. We assessed the individuals´ age at death by applying histological and µCT inspection of the maxillary second incisors (i2) in conjunction with C- and N-isotope ratios and Barium (Ba) intake as biomarker for breastfeeding. The results show that the twins were full-term newborns, and that while individual 2 died at birth, individual 1 survived for about 50 days. The findings show that Gravettian mortuary behaviour also included re-opening of a grave and manipulation of its layout and content.
