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Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas J. Kennett

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Stephen Plog

    (University of Virginia)

  • Richard J. George

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Brendan J. Culleton

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Adam S. Watson

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Pontus Skoglund

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Nadin Rohland

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Swapan Mallick

    (Harvard Medical School
    Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School)

  • Kristin Stewardson

    (Harvard Medical School
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School)

  • Logan Kistler

    (Pennsylvania State University
    Present address: Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA)

  • Steven A. LeBlanc

    (Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University)

  • Peter M. Whiteley

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • David Reich

    (Harvard Medical School
    Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School)

  • George H. Perry

    (Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University)

Abstract

For societies with writing systems, hereditary leadership is documented as one of the hallmarks of early political complexity and governance. In contrast, it is unknown whether hereditary succession played a role in the early formation of prehistoric complex societies that lacked writing. Here we use an archaeogenomic approach to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon, the centre of an expansive prehistoric complex society in the Southwestern United States. We show that nine individuals buried in an elite crypt at Pueblo Bonito, the largest structure in the canyon, have identical mitochondrial genomes. Analyses of nuclear genome data from six samples with the highest DNA preservation demonstrate mother–daughter and grandmother–grandson relationships, evidence for a multigenerational matrilineal descent group. Together, these results demonstrate the persistence of an elite matriline in Chaco for ∼330 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas J. Kennett & Stephen Plog & Richard J. George & Brendan J. Culleton & Adam S. Watson & Pontus Skoglund & Nadin Rohland & Swapan Mallick & Kristin Stewardson & Logan Kistler & Steven A. LeBlanc, 2017. "Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14115
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14115
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    Cited by:

    1. Douglas J. Kennett & Marilyn Masson & Carlos Peraza Lope & Stanley Serafin & Richard J. George & Tom C. Spencer & Julie A. Hoggarth & Brendan J. Culleton & Thomas K. Harper & Keith M. Prufer & Susan M, 2022. "Drought-Induced Civil Conflict Among the Ancient Maya," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Douglas J. Kennett & Mark Lipson & Keith M. Prufer & David Mora-Marín & Richard J. George & Nadin Rohland & Mark Robinson & Willa R. Trask & Heather H. J. Edgar & Ethan C. Hill & Erin E. Ray & Paige L, 2022. "South-to-north migration preceded the advent of intensive farming in the Maya region," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Chi-Chun Liu & David Witonsky & Anna Gosling & Ju Hyeon Lee & Harald Ringbauer & Richard Hagan & Nisha Patel & Raphaela Stahl & John Novembre & Mark Aldenderfer & Christina Warinner & Anna Di Rienzo &, 2022. "Ancient genomes from the Himalayas illuminate the genetic history of Tibetans and their Tibeto-Burman speaking neighbors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.

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