A man buried in Sweden in the Mesolithic era

I0013
Portrait reconstruction
Disclaimer: The portrait shown is a speculative reconstruction and not the actual face of the ancient sample. It represents an artistic interpretation based on archaeological data.
Specimen Details
Sample ID:
I0013
Date:
5966 BCE - 5634 BCE
Biological Sex:
Male
mtDNA:
U5a1
Y-DNA:
I-V4921
Cultural Period:
Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden
Location
Country:
Sweden
Locality:
Motala. Kanaljorden
Coordinates:
58.5350, 15.0460
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Hunter-Gatherer culture of Motala, Sweden, is an intriguing chapter of human prehistory, positioned within the broader context of the Western European Hunter-Gatherers (WEHG) during the Mesolithic period. This era, which spanned from approximately 10,000 to 5,000 BCE, marks a critical transitional phase as humans adapted to post-glacial environments across Europe.

Geography and Environment

Motala is situated in south-central Sweden, an area characterized by a landscape of lakes, rivers, and dense forests. During the Mesolithic period, this region was undergoing significant ecological transformation due to the retreat of the ice sheets from the last Ice Age. The climate was warming, which allowed for the spread of deciduous forests interspersed with conifers, creating a richly diverse environment. Waterways were abundant, providing a lifeline for the communities that thrived there.

Subsistence and Economy

The Western European Hunter-Gatherers, including those from Motala, were highly adapted to their landscapes. Their economy was based on a mix of hunting, fishing, and foraging, which ensured a varied diet. The presence of lakes and rivers meant that fishing was an essential component of their subsistence strategy. Evidence, such as fishing implements and remains of fish species like pike and perch, suggests that they had sophisticated methods for catching fish.

Hunting supplemented their diet, with evidence of red deer, wild boar, and elk being prevalent game. These communities used tools like arrows and spears, crafted with microlithic technology, indicating advanced hunting techniques. Gathering played a crucial role as well, with nuts, berries, and wild plants providing nutritional balance.

Social Structure and Settlement Patterns

The Hunter-Gatherers of Motala lived in semi-permanent settlements, often near water sources. Archaeological findings suggest small, kin-based groups, which were flexible and mobile to adapt to the seasonal availability of resources. The social structure was likely egalitarian, with shared responsibilities for hunting, gathering, and processing food, although some division of labor based on age and gender might have existed.

Their dwellings were constructed to provide shelter from the harsh Scandinavian weather, using materials like wood and animal hides. The architecture likely consisted of simple, yet functional design, optimized for their nomadic lifestyle.

Tools and Technology

The technology of the Motala inhabitants was marked by a high degree of sophistication, particularly in the domain of lithic tools. They utilized local flint and stone to create an array of tools that typified the Mesolithic toolkit—microliths, scrapers, blades, and burins. These tools were essential for their survival, utilized in hunting, processing food, and crafting other implements.

Bone and antler were also significant materials. Artifacts such as bone fishhooks, harpoons, and needles have been discovered, demonstrating their skill in working with organic materials.

Art and Spirituality

While there is limited direct evidence of art from this specific region, parallels with other Mesolithic cultures suggest that symbolic expression was an integral part of their lives. This could have included body ornamentation with ochre, creating carvings, or engaging in ritualistic practices. Artifacts from other hunter-gatherer sites include decorated objects, which hint at a complex spiritual life potentially involving animistic beliefs or ancestor worship.

Burial Practices

One of the most striking aspects of the Motala hunter-gatherers was their mortuary practices, underscoring complex social and spiritual dimensions. Excavations in the region have revealed burials that include a variety of grave goods, such as red ochre, stone tools, and animal teeth pendants, suggesting a belief in an afterlife or the importance of items in death as in life.

In conclusion, the Hunter-Gatherer culture of Motala represents a community deeply intertwined with its natural environment, exhibiting adaptations that reflect both survival needs and evolving cultural practices. Their lifestyle, characterized by mobility, a diverse subsistence strategy, and intricate social structures, offers fascinating insights into the resilience and adaptability of human societies during the Mesolithic period.

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Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
I0013 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5966 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
I0011 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5721 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
I0015 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5967 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
I0012 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5715 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
I0014 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5885 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
I0017 Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5722 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
MotalaAA Hunter-Gatherer Motala, Sweden 5724 BCE Motala. Kanaljorden, Sweden View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I0013) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Western Steppe Pastoralists 78%
European Hunter-Gatherers 20%
Ancient Native Americans 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I0013) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.

These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.

Europe 100%
Northwestern European 65%
Finnish 29.9%
Northwestern European 14.3%
English 14.2%
Scandinavian 6.1%
Eastern European 35%
Eastern European 35.5%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample I0013 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

I0013,0.13065804,0.1127064,0.09074824,0.07860044,0.03842284,0.03224054,0.00598212,0.0140642,-0.00114498,-0.0317942,0.00092104,-0.00768152,0.01390108,0.01462734,0.00068522,0.0007223,0.0010568,-0.00235654,0.00527832,0.00152578,0.00344532,-0.00487538,-0.0047014,0.00851346,0.00259648
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Genome-wide patterns of selection in 230 ancient Eurasians
Authors:
Mathieson I, Lazaridis I, Rohland N
Abstract:

Ancient DNA makes it possible to observe natural selection directly by analysing samples from populations before, during and after adaptation events. Here we report a genome-wide scan for selection using ancient DNA, capitalizing on the largest ancient DNA data set yet assembled: 230 West Eurasians who lived between 6500 and 300 bc, including 163 with newly reported data. The new samples include, to our knowledge, the first genome-wide ancient DNA from Anatolian Neolithic farmers, whose genetic material we obtained by extracting from petrous bones, and who we show were members of the population that was the source of Europe's first farmers. We also report a transect of the steppe region in Samara between 5600 and 300 bc, which allows us to identify admixture into the steppe from at least two external sources. We detect selection at loci associated with diet, pigmentation and immunity, and two independent episodes of selection on height.

Link:
View Publication
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