The Site Groß Fredenwalde, NE-Germany, and the Early Cemeteries of Northern Europe

The Mesolithic burial site Groß Fredenwalde, NE-Germany, discovered in 1962, had remained a poorly understood part of the Mesolithic burial record for decades. Since 2012, the site has been under re-investigation. New discoveries confirm the presence of several single and multiple inhumation graves. Groß Fredenwalde stands out as the largest and one of the oldest Mesolithic cemeteries in North-central Europe. Its use period can be separated into two phases: a main phase in the late seventh millennium cal BC to the early sixth millennium cal BC and a later single burial c. 4900 cal BC. Here the state of research on the site is presented and selected characteristics are discussed in the context of early cemeteries of Northern and North-eastern Europe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

: Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Peer reviewe

Results from the osteological-palaeopathological analyses

Kinder repräsentieren innerhalb einer Population die schwächsten Mitglieder der Gesellschaft. Erstmals werden für den brandenburgischen Raum archäologisch geborgene Skelette von Kindern mit medizinischen Methoden analysiert, um Einblicke in deren Lebensbedingungen und Krankheitsbelastung zu erhalten. Aus der Population von Tasdorf (Landkreis Märkisch-Oderland) stehen 123 Kinderskelette des 13. bis 19. Jahrhunderts für die Untersuchungen zur Verfügung. Ein Ausrichtungswechsel der Gräber in der zweiten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhunderts ermöglicht eine relativ sichere zeitliche Einordnung der Bestatteten einerseits in das späte Mittelalter (13.-16. Jahrhundert) und andererseits in die frühe Neuzeit (17.-19. Jahrhundert). Neben der osteologischen Bestimmung der Individualdaten mit den gängigen Methoden, erfolgte die Untersuchung der Gebisse und unspezifischen Stressmarker, sowie die Diagnose von Mangel- und Infektionserkrankungen mittels Licht- und Rasterelektronenmikroskopie sowie Röntgenbildern. Die Altersverteilung zeigt in der frühen Neuzeit ein hohes Sterberisiko von Neugeborenen und Mädchen im Kleinkindalter, im Mittelalter ist die Sterblichkeit dagegen im dritten Lebensjahr erhöht. In diesem Alter wurden die Kinder abgestillt, was mit besonderen Risiken verbunden war. Es ist ein gehäuftes Auftreten von Schmelzhypoplasien und Harris-Linien in Verbindung mit einer Stagnation des Längenwachstums zu beobachten. Diese Korrelation von unspezifischen Stressmarkern mit dem Abstillalter kann in der frühen Neuzeit nicht belegt werden. Die hohe Säuglingssterblichkeit deutet eher auf lang anhaltende Subsistenzkrisen und Armut in der Bevölkerung hin, die für die mittelalterliche Kinderpopulation nicht in dem Maße angenommen werden kann. Mangelernährung stellt für die Kinder beider Epochen ein grundlegendes Risiko dar. Durch eine vitaminarme Ernährung auf Getreidebasis kommt es häufig zu chronischem Vitamin C–Mangel, der bei der Hälfte der Individuen nachgewiesen werden kann. Die nachfolgende geschwächte Immunabwehr führt zu etlichen Folgeerkrankungen, wie Infektionen der Nasennebenhöhlen sowie der Hirnhäute. Im Vergleich mit frühmittelalterlichen Kinderpopulationen sind die Krankheitshäufigkeiten meist geringer, was zum Teil mit einer verbesserten Wohnsituation seit dem Hochmittelalter in Verbindung stehen dürfte. Sowohl Gemeinsamkeiten als auch Unterschiede charakterisieren die Lebensbedingungen der Kinder im Verlauf des Spätmittelalters zur frühen Neuzeit. Nahrungsmängel sowie unzureichende Hygiene und dem daraus folgenden erhöhten Infektionsrisiko stellen die größten Gefahren dar. Insgesamt kann eine Verschlechterung der Lebensumstände vom späten Mittelalter hin zur frühen Neuzeit rekonstruiert werden.Within a population the child represents the weakest member of a society. For the first time in the Brandenburg area recovered child skeletons were analysed with medical methods to obtain an insight into their living conditions and strains from diseases. 123 child skeletons from Tasdorf (County of Märkisch- Oderland), dating from 13th-19th century were subject to this analysis. The orientation of graves that changed in the second half of the 16th century made a relatively certain dating of the skeletons possible, since they were either from the Late Middle Ages (13th-16th century) or from the Early Modern Times (17th-19th century). In addition to the osteological classification of skeleton data teeth and unspecific stress markers were analysed and deficiencies and infectious diseases were diagnosed with light and scanning electron microscopy and x-ray. The age distribution shows a high mortality risk for newborns and female infants in the Early Modern Times, whereas infant mortality increases at the age of three in the Middle Ages. Children were usually weaned at the age of three, which involved particular risks for them. An accumulation of enamel hypoplasias and Harris-lines together with a stagnation of growth in height can be observed. Such a correlation of unspecific stress markers with the age of ablactating cannot be proved for the Early Modern Times. The neonatal mortality rather indicates enduring subsistence crises and poverty of the population, which cannot be assumed for the medieval child population. Malnutrition represents an essential risk for children from both eras. The lack of vitamins in a diet that is based on cereals leads to a chronic lack of vitamin C, which could be found in 50% of the individuals. The resulting weakened immune defence leads to numerous diseases, such as sinusitis and meningitis. The frequency of diseases is less compared to early medieval child populations. This can be attributed to an improved housing situation since the early High Middle Ages. Common features and differences characterise the living conditions of children during the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern Times. Malnutrition as well as insufficient hygienic conditions and resulting higher infectious risks are major threats to children. Altogether the analysis allows a reconstruction of the deteriorating living conditions from the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern Times

Between belief and fear-Reinterpreting prone burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period in German-speaking Europe

Prone burials are among the most distinctive deviant burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period. Despite their worldwide distribution, the meaning of this burial practice is still a matter of debate. So far, a comprehensive analysis of prone burials is lacking for Central Europe. By compiling evidence from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, this study investigates how these findings fit into the scope of medieval funerary practices. 95 prone burials from 60 archaeological sites were analyzed regarding geographical distribution, dating, burial features, body position, age-at-death and sex. We applied descriptive statistics accompanied by multiple correspondence analysis in order to highlight possible multivariate patterns in the dataset. Prone burials occur in funerary and non-funerary contexts, with a predominance of single churchyard burials, followed by favored and exterior location and settlements. In terms of grave features, the majority of churchyard burials do not differ from regular graves. Multivariate patterns appear to reflect diachronic changes in normative burial practices. We found a significant correlation between burial location and dating, due to a higher frequency of high medieval males in favored locations. In these cases, prone position is interpreted as a sign of humility, while similar evidences from late and post-medieval times are seen as an expression of deviancy. Apparent lack of care during burial reveals disrespect and possible social exclusion, with inhumations outside consecrated ground being the ultimate punishment. In some regions, apotropaic practices suggest that corpses should be prevented from returning, as attested in contemporaneous sources and folk beliefs. We hypothesize that the increase of prone burials towards the late and post-medieval period is linked to such practices triggered by epidemic diseases. The multiplicity of meanings that prone position might have in different contexts demands for careful interpretations within the same regional and chronological frame

BETWEEN BELIEF AND FEAR - REINTERPRETING DEVIANT PRONE BURIALS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES AND EARLY MODERN PERIOD IN GERMAN-SPEAKING EUROPE

Prone burials are among the most distinctive deviant burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period. Despite their worldwide distribution, the meaning of this burial practice is still a matter of debate. So far, a comprehensive analysis of prone burials is lacking for Central Europe. By compiling evidence from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, this study investigates how these findings fit into the scope of medieval funerary practices. 95 prone burials from 60 archaeological sites were analyzed regarding geographical distribution, dating, burial features, body position, age-at-death and sex. We applied descriptive statistics accompanied by multiple correspondence analysis in order to highlight possible multivariate patterns in the dataset. Prone burials occur in funerary and non-funerary contexts, with a predominance of single churchyard burials, followed by favored and exterior location and settlements. In terms of grave features, the majority of churchyard burials do not differ from regular graves. Multivariate patterns appear to reflect diachronic changes in normative burial practices. We found a significant correlation between burial location and dating, due to a higher frequency of high medieval males in favored locations. In these cases, prone position is interpreted as a sign of humility, while similar evidences from late and post-medieval times are seen as an expression of deviancy. Apparent lack of care during burial reveals disrespect and possible social exclusion, with inhumations outside consecrated ground being the ultimate punishment. In some regions, apotropaic practices suggest that corpses should be prevented from returning, as attested in contemporaneous sources and folk beliefs. We hypothesize that the increase of prone burials towards the late and post-medieval period is linked to such practices triggered by epidemic diseases. The multiplicity of meanings that prone position might have in different contexts demands for careful interpretations within the same regional and chronological frame

The Site Groß Fredenwalde, NE-Germany, and the Early Cemeteries of Northern Europe

The Mesolithic burial site Groß Fredenwalde, NE-Germany, discovered in 1962, had remained a poorly understood part of the Mesolithic burial record for decades. Since 2012, the site has been under re-investigation. New discoveries confirm the presence of several single and multiple inhumation graves. Groß Fredenwalde stands out as the largest and one of the oldest Mesolithic cemeteries in North-central Europe. Its use period can be separated into two phases: a main phase in the late seventh millennium cal BC to the early sixth millennium cal BC and a later single burial c. 4900 cal BC. Here the state of research on the site is presented and selected characteristics are discussed in the context of early cemeteries of Northern and North-eastern Europe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1, 2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants