Ancient DNA Reveals Earliest Known Case of Father–Daughter Incest in Bronze Age Italy

 Ancient DNA Reveals Earliest Known Case of Father–Daughter Incest in Bronze Age Italy

By examining human remains from a Bronze Age cave in southern Italy, archaeologists and geneticists have discovered the earliest genetic evidence of a father-daughter incestuous connection in the archaeological record.

Grotta della Monaca, a Calabrian cave that served as a burial ground between 1780 and 1380 BCE, is where the finding originated. As part of a larger endeavor to comprehend the ancestry, movement, and social structure of the society, researchers examined ancient DNA from the skeletal remains of over 20 people interred at the site.

A adolescent boy's genome revealed a remarkably high degree of genetic similarity among the remains, suggesting that his parents were closely linked. Subsequent investigation revealed that his mother was the biological daughter of his father, an adult male buried in the same cave. Compared to sibling unions previously recorded in ancient populations, this constitutes a first-degree parent-child union, which is much more uncommon and genetically risky.

As was typical in prehistoric cultures, the majority of those interred in the cave displayed indications of distant family. But this adolescent's genetic profile was unique among ancient DNA collections. Researchers discovered no conclusive genetic evidence of serious hereditary illnesses in his remains despite this extensive inbreeding.

The community was not isolated, according to the broader DNA study. In addition to having origins in early European farmers, steppe pastoralists, and hunter-gatherers, their ancestry was closely linked to tribes from Sicily during the Bronze Age. Instead of a tiny, closed group where incest would be expected due to population pressure, this indicates frequent contact and migration throughout southern Italy.

It's still unclear why such a relationship took place. There are no obvious indications of royal lineage or social hierarchy in the community, where close-kin marriages are occasionally employed to maintain riches or power. Because this might have been a rare incident rather than a regular practice, researchers advise against assuming compulsion or ritual in the absence of more proof.

The results, which were published in the journal Communications Biology, demonstrate how ancient DNA can disclose previously undiscovered facets of prehistoric life. This link provides a unique and terrifying window into the intricacy of human behavior thousands of years ago, even though its societal significance may never be fully understood.