title: United in death-related by blood? Genetic and archeometric analyses of skeletal remains from the neolithic earthwork Bruchsal-Aue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Straight next to a segment of the outer ditch of the Late Neolithic Michelsberg Culture earthwork of Bruchsal-Aue in SW-Germany (ca. 4250-3650 calBC), a multiple burial of eight individuals (two male adults and six children) plus a subsequent child burial was excavated. In this study, we applied a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate interpersonal relationships and life histories within this collective.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the identity of this collective, we performed aDNA analyses in addition to osteological examination using HVR I plus Y-chromosomal and autosomal STR profiling to find evidence for kinship relations. Strontium isotopic analyses were used to reconsider migrational behavior. To find evidence for a specific social affiliation, the individual diet was reconstructed by performing nitrogen and carbon isotopic analyses. Furthermore, radiocarbon-dating was carried out to integrate the burial context into an absolute timeframe. Two nearby single burials were included in the analyses for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because of a shared HVR I haplotype, three pairs of individuals were most likely linked by kinship, and statistical testing on autosomal STR profiles shows a high probability for the pair of two men being brothers. Although it cannot be excluded, isotopic data gave no clear proof for migration. A rather poor health status is indicated by skeletal stress markers even though the isotope data attest to a diet rich in meat and fish.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although clear kinship relations among the infants remain unconfirmed, a relationship could also be indicated by the positioning of the bodies in the burial pit. Whereas a common cause of death might have been the presupposition for their special treatment, interpersonal relationships were likely the decisive factor for the multiple burial.
authors: Anthropology and Environmental History, Department Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Keller
authors: Department of Anthropology, State Collection for Anthropology and Palaeoanatomy, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Rott
authors: Anthropology and Environmental History, Department Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.|Department of Anthropology, State Collection for Anthropology and Palaeoanatomy, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors: Nadja
authors: N
authors: Hoke
authors: Department of Prehistory, Bavarian State Archaeological Collection, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Schwarzberg
authors: Department of Archaeological Heritage Management 84.2, State Office for Cultural Heritage Management Baden-Württemberg, State Regional Authority Stuttgart, D-76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Regner-Kamlah
authors: Department of Anthropology, State Collection for Anthropology and Palaeoanatomy, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Harbeck
authors: Department of Archaeological Heritage Management 84.1, State Office for Cultural Heritage Management Baden-Württemberg, State Regional Authority Stuttgart, D-78467 Constance, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Wahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D001106:Archaeology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D007554:Isotopes
keywords: Michelsberg Culture; STRs; kinship; mtDNA; stable isotopes