A fascinating glimpse into the social structure of Stone Age communities in France has emerged from the analysis of a mass grave in the Aven de la Boucle, a limestone cave in the south of the country. The site, dating back roughly 5,000 years, holds the remains of approximately 75 individuals, the majority of whom were adults at the time of their death.
Researchers, analyzing the genomes of 37 individuals and radiocarbon dating their bones, found a striking pattern. The burials occurred repeatedly between 3600 and 2800 B.C., and a remarkable 76% of the deceased were male. Further analysis revealed that most of these men shared the same paternal lineage, identified as haplogroup G2, passed down through the Y chromosome.
This discovery strongly suggests that social status within these communities was inherited paternally. The presence of the G2 haplogroup appears to have been a significant factor determining who was buried at this site, highlighting the importance of patrilineal kinship.
“Considering that all [the] men involved in kinship relations carry that same haplogroup (G2), this allowed us to raise the hypothesis of a patrilineal system,” said Mélanie Pruvost, a paleogeneticist at the University of Bordeaux and co-author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. “In other words, the affiliation to a specific male lineage appears to be a preponderant factor to access the collective grave.”
While the dominance of men in the burial site is clear, the presence of several women raises intriguing questions. Pruvost proposed a few possible explanations. One possibility is that only a limited number of women were allowed or chose to be interred in the collective grave. Another possibility is that female remains were removed after decomposition, perhaps to be buried elsewhere.
She also suggests that, as is common in prehistoric societies, women might have left their ancestral communities to live with their partners in a system known as patrilocal residence. This could explain why some women might have returned to their ancestral communities for burial.
The specific choice of this site for such a prolonged period of burials remains a mystery. The cave’s location, characteristics, or even the presence of specific individuals buried there might have held significant meaning for the communities. However, the precise reasons are likely to remain elusive.
Beyond the skeletal remains, the cave yielded a wealth of artifacts, including ceramics and objects crafted from animal bones that may have been used to secure shrouds or clothing. These artifacts provide further insights into the lives and practices of these ancient communities.
The discovery of this mass grave with its clear emphasis on patrilineality adds valuable information to our understanding of Stone Age societies in France. It reveals a complex social structure where lineage and family played a vital role in determining status and burial rights. Further research promises to shed even more light on the lives of these ancient people and their fascinating social world.
