DNA analysis of early mediaeval individuals from the Zvonimirovo burial site in Northern Croatia: investigation of kinship relationships by using multiplex system amplification for short tandem repeat loci.
OBJECTIVE
To perform initial DNA analysis of four selected early mediaeval individuals from the Zvonimirovo burial site in Northern Croatia.


METHODS
Investigation of genetic matching of individuals from a "double burial" and of individuals with shared cranial non-metric/metric traits from two single inhumations, located in another block of the cemetery complex, was carried out. DNA from four teeth samples was extracted, quantified, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for short tandem repeat loci, using AmpFlSTR Profiler PCR Amplification Kit.


RESULTS
Autosomal STR genotyping generated high parentage probability (PP) as to the matching of the two individuals from the "double burial" site (PP 98.63%), and of two women with shared cranial non-metric/metric traits from neighboring single burials (PP 90.07%). Parentage probability calculations of a possible genetic matching of the subadult from a "double burial" with the adults from single burials 4 and 3, were significantly lower (PP 60.45% and 38.52%). DNA typing for amelogenin confirmed the sex of the three female individuals, estimated previously by morphology. The unknown sex of a subadult was also identified as female.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased parentage probability for autosomal STR loci matches and the presence of a rare allele shared among matched individuals support their possible kinship relationship, in accordance with bioarchaeological data. We assume an intentional double burial based on a close familial relationship, ie two single neighboring inhumations based on consanguinity, rather than a strong social relationship. The kinship lineages remain unknown at this point.
Boljuncić
Jadranka
J
Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia. jadranka.boljuncic@iarh.t-com.hr
D000328:Adult; D053523:Amelogenin / Q000235:genetics; D017523:Croatia; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D053803:Forensic Genetics; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009027:Mortuary Practice
D053523:Amelogenin
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