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.
