Periodic Reporting for period 4 - NEOGENE (Archaeogenomic analysis of genetic and cultural interactions in Neolithic Anatolian societies)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
The problem
NEOGENE’s primary goal is to combine genetic and archaeological data to uncover the true story behind the transition from mobile hunting-gathering to settled farming life about 12,000-6,000 years ago, known as the Neolithic Period. This period marked a radical change in human history, shifting from egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies to more complex, settled farming communities with emerging social inequalities and patriarchal structures.
The Neolithic way of life first developed in the eastern Mediterranean and northern Mesopotamia around 12,000 years ago, soon after the Ice Ages ended. This era saw the advent of mudbrick houses, wild grain storage pits, stone sickles, and eventually the domestication of wheat, barley, sheep, goats, and pigs. Population size increased with growing resources, and similar customs, such as burial rites centering on skulls, were observed across these Neolithic villages.
By 9,000 BC, the Neolithic lifestyle had spread to Central Anatolia and Cyprus, and by 7,000 BC, it began spreading westward into the Aegean and Europe, leading to the disappearance of nomadic foraging in West Eurasia. Archaeology has studied this cultural transformation for nearly a century, yet questions remain about regional interactions, the spread of technologies and rituals, and intra-community relations.
Archaeogenomics and anthropology are essential to answer these questions. They can reveal how emerging technologies and rituals spread among villages and whether those living and being buried together were biologically related. By studying genetic data, we can gain insights into kinship forms and gender inequalities during this transformative period.
Ancient DNA and the goal of the study
Ancient DNA involves extracting DNA from ancient bones, sequencing it, and comparing it with other DNA sequences to gain insights into demographic history and biological kinship. In NEOGENE, we are analyzing ancient DNA from hundreds of Neolithic Anatolian individuals (10,000-5,000 BC) and combining it with archaeological data to understand their traditions and interactions. We are also studying ancient sheep genomes from the same communities to explore how sheep, a crucial protein source domesticated likely in Anatolia, were transported among groups.
Conclusion
By analyzing ancient genomes, we uncovered groundbreaking insights into kinship structures, gender roles, and social organization, challenging previously held assumptions about patrilocal and patrilineal practices in early farming communities. Our interdisciplinary approach, combining genetics, archaeology, anthropology, and computer science, enabled us to develop novel methodologies and produce substantial paleogenomic data. These findings have not only enriched the academic field but also contributed to public awareness of historical social dynamics. The ERC grant facilitated the establishment of a robust and interdisciplinary research group, fostering collaborations and enhancing research capacity in Turkey.
NEOGENE’s primary goal is to combine genetic and archaeological data to uncover the true story behind the transition from mobile hunting-gathering to settled farming life about 12,000-6,000 years ago, known as the Neolithic Period. This period marked a radical change in human history, shifting from egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies to more complex, settled farming communities with emerging social inequalities and patriarchal structures.
The Neolithic way of life first developed in the eastern Mediterranean and northern Mesopotamia around 12,000 years ago, soon after the Ice Ages ended. This era saw the advent of mudbrick houses, wild grain storage pits, stone sickles, and eventually the domestication of wheat, barley, sheep, goats, and pigs. Population size increased with growing resources, and similar customs, such as burial rites centering on skulls, were observed across these Neolithic villages.
By 9,000 BC, the Neolithic lifestyle had spread to Central Anatolia and Cyprus, and by 7,000 BC, it began spreading westward into the Aegean and Europe, leading to the disappearance of nomadic foraging in West Eurasia. Archaeology has studied this cultural transformation for nearly a century, yet questions remain about regional interactions, the spread of technologies and rituals, and intra-community relations.
Archaeogenomics and anthropology are essential to answer these questions. They can reveal how emerging technologies and rituals spread among villages and whether those living and being buried together were biologically related. By studying genetic data, we can gain insights into kinship forms and gender inequalities during this transformative period.
Ancient DNA and the goal of the study
Ancient DNA involves extracting DNA from ancient bones, sequencing it, and comparing it with other DNA sequences to gain insights into demographic history and biological kinship. In NEOGENE, we are analyzing ancient DNA from hundreds of Neolithic Anatolian individuals (10,000-5,000 BC) and combining it with archaeological data to understand their traditions and interactions. We are also studying ancient sheep genomes from the same communities to explore how sheep, a crucial protein source domesticated likely in Anatolia, were transported among groups.
Conclusion
By analyzing ancient genomes, we uncovered groundbreaking insights into kinship structures, gender roles, and social organization, challenging previously held assumptions about patrilocal and patrilineal practices in early farming communities. Our interdisciplinary approach, combining genetics, archaeology, anthropology, and computer science, enabled us to develop novel methodologies and produce substantial paleogenomic data. These findings have not only enriched the academic field but also contributed to public awareness of historical social dynamics. The ERC grant facilitated the establishment of a robust and interdisciplinary research group, fostering collaborations and enhancing research capacity in Turkey.
Through the NEOGENE project, we have made groundbreaking discoveries that illuminate the complexity of early Neolithic societies in Anatolia. Our detailed analysis of ancient genomes provided fresh insights into social structures, revealing how kinship patterns evolved from close familial ties to more varied social configurations. This research demonstrated that Neolithic Anatolian communities, such as those at Çatalhöyük, displayed matrilineal connections and a lack of female exogamy, challenging the previously accepted narrative of patrilocal and patrilineal practices in early agricultural societies.
Additionally, the project explored the genetic and cultural interactions during the Neolithic period in Southwest Asia, highlighting significant roles of genetic admixture in cultural change, but also instances where culture changes without admixture. We developed innovative methodologies for working with ultra-low coverage genomes and introduced quantitative approaches for analyzing genetic and material culture data together. Our investigation into sheep domestication also uncovered new information, showing the critical influence of Anatolian wild sheep on the gene pool of domestic sheep.
The project's results have been widely disseminated through prestigious publications and presentations at international conferences, enriching academic discussions on Neolithic societies and genetic research techniques. The new computational tools and methods developed are now accessible to the scientific community, improving research efficiency in genetics and archaeology.
NEOGENE has also greatly enhanced local research capabilities in Turkey by training a new cohort of scientists in cutting-edge genomic methods. Public engagement efforts, including popular science articles and media coverage, have increased awareness of historical social changes. Moreover, the project has established extensive collaborative networks with international research teams, paving the way for continued and future research endeavors.
Additionally, the project explored the genetic and cultural interactions during the Neolithic period in Southwest Asia, highlighting significant roles of genetic admixture in cultural change, but also instances where culture changes without admixture. We developed innovative methodologies for working with ultra-low coverage genomes and introduced quantitative approaches for analyzing genetic and material culture data together. Our investigation into sheep domestication also uncovered new information, showing the critical influence of Anatolian wild sheep on the gene pool of domestic sheep.
The project's results have been widely disseminated through prestigious publications and presentations at international conferences, enriching academic discussions on Neolithic societies and genetic research techniques. The new computational tools and methods developed are now accessible to the scientific community, improving research efficiency in genetics and archaeology.
NEOGENE has also greatly enhanced local research capabilities in Turkey by training a new cohort of scientists in cutting-edge genomic methods. Public engagement efforts, including popular science articles and media coverage, have increased awareness of historical social changes. Moreover, the project has established extensive collaborative networks with international research teams, paving the way for continued and future research endeavors.
The NEOGENE project has propelled the field of archaeogenomics and our understanding of Neolithic societies far beyond previous limits. By producing an unprecedented volume of paleogenomic data from Neolithic Anatolia, including nearly 400 ancient genomes, we have significantly expanded the genetic landscape of early agricultural communities. This extensive dataset includes the world's oldest comprehensive genetic sample from a single village community, Çatalhöyük, providing invaluable insights into the social and genetic dynamics of early Neolithic societies.
One of the project's groundbreaking achievements was the revelation of matrilineal kinship structures within Çatalhöyük, challenging the previously dominant narrative of patrilineal and patrilocal systems in early farming communities. This discovery has provided critical new evidence for the ongoing debates about gender roles and social organization in prehistoric societies.
Additionally, NEOGENE has pioneered the integration of genetic and material culture data through quantitative co-analysis. This novel approach has allowed us to demonstrate that cultural interactions often occurred independently of genetic admixture, indicating that ideas and practices spread more rapidly than people in the Neolithic period. Such insights are setting new standards for interdisciplinary research in archaeogenomics.
The project has also introduced advanced methodologies for analyzing ultra-low coverage genomes, overcoming significant technical challenges that previously limited the scope of paleogenomic research. Our development of new computational tools and algorithms has improved the accuracy and efficiency of genetic analyses, making these techniques accessible for broader applications in archaeology and related fields.
Through NEOGENE, we have also made substantial contributions to understanding animal domestication, particularly sheep, revealing the deep genetic connections between ancient Anatolian wild sheep and modern domestic breeds. This work has implications for both historical research and contemporary conservation efforts.
Overall, NEOGENE has not only answered longstanding questions about Neolithic societies but has also opened new avenues for research, setting a high bar for future studies in archaeogenomics and beyond.
One of the project's groundbreaking achievements was the revelation of matrilineal kinship structures within Çatalhöyük, challenging the previously dominant narrative of patrilineal and patrilocal systems in early farming communities. This discovery has provided critical new evidence for the ongoing debates about gender roles and social organization in prehistoric societies.
Additionally, NEOGENE has pioneered the integration of genetic and material culture data through quantitative co-analysis. This novel approach has allowed us to demonstrate that cultural interactions often occurred independently of genetic admixture, indicating that ideas and practices spread more rapidly than people in the Neolithic period. Such insights are setting new standards for interdisciplinary research in archaeogenomics.
The project has also introduced advanced methodologies for analyzing ultra-low coverage genomes, overcoming significant technical challenges that previously limited the scope of paleogenomic research. Our development of new computational tools and algorithms has improved the accuracy and efficiency of genetic analyses, making these techniques accessible for broader applications in archaeology and related fields.
Through NEOGENE, we have also made substantial contributions to understanding animal domestication, particularly sheep, revealing the deep genetic connections between ancient Anatolian wild sheep and modern domestic breeds. This work has implications for both historical research and contemporary conservation efforts.
Overall, NEOGENE has not only answered longstanding questions about Neolithic societies but has also opened new avenues for research, setting a high bar for future studies in archaeogenomics and beyond.