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- Title
Ancient DNA reveals monozygotic newborn twins from the Upper Palaeolithic.
- Authors
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
- Abstract
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. Maria Teschler-Nicola et al. use ancient DNA sequencing to report the earliest known case of human monozygotic twins found in a previously discovered Upper Palaeolithic burial site. Using bioanthropological and archaeological techniques, they also find that the twins were full-term newborns and that ancient mortuary behavior included re-opening of grave sites to bury related individuals together.
- Subjects
GRAVETTIAN culture; DNA sequencing; BIOMARKERS; BREASTFEEDING; PHYSICAL anthropology
- Publication
Communications Biology, 2020, Vol 3, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2399-3642
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s42003-020-01372-8