title: All different, all equal: Evidence of a heterogeneous Neolithic population at the Bom Santo Cave necropolis (Portugal).
abstract: The objective of this paper was to contribute to the discussion regarding the socio-political organization of south-western Iberian Middle Neolithic populations. To that end, the preservation and distribution of human remains and the dispersion of grave goods within two rooms of the Bom Santo Cave (Rooms A and B) were investigated and combined with genetic and isotopic data previously published. Grave goods distribution and skeletal analyses highlighted an important diversity in terms of funerary practices thus corroborating data from ancient DNA and Sr/O isotopic analyses that suggested a great genetic and geographic diversity. Grave goods presented an uneven spatial distribution and were made of raw materials from different sources and using different pottery manufacturing styles albeit typologically homogeneous. The preservation and distribution of human remains suggested that Room A was mainly used for secondary depositions while Room B was used for both primary and secondary depositions. No link between the two rooms was found since remains from the same individuals were apparently exclusive of one room or another. The results suggest that this society presented substantial inner genetic, social and geographical heterogeneity. Most probably, this was due to the presence of distinct but coeval groups in the cave that shared a larger-scale social identity (as in "segmentary societies") or, less likely, to the presence of one single, but internally heterogeneous society (as in fully sedentary societies) that assimilated foreigners.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratório de Arqueociências, Direcção Geral do Património Cultural and LARC/CIBIO/InBIO, Rua da Bica do Marquês 2, 1300-087 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: davidmiguelgoncalves@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8000-117 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granja
authors.affiliation: Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia (CRIA), FCSH, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Av. Berna, 26-C, 1069-061 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alves-Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8000-117 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D055699:Cemeteries / Q000266:history; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000266:history*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal