A woman buried in Sweden in the Mesolithic era

I0014
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:
I0014
Date:
5885 BCE - 5624 BCE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
U5a2d
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
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.

Related Samples
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
I0234 Srubnaya Culture 1850 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara Steppes. Rozhdestveno I, Russia View
I0126 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2867 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Kutuluk River. Kutuluk III, Russia View
I0432 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2925 BCE Samara Oblast. Sok River. Potapovka I, Russia View
I0434 Eneolithic Khvalynsk Culture, Russia 5198 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Khvalynsk II, Russia View
I0433 Eneolithic Khvalynsk Culture, Russia 4697 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Khvalynsk II, Russia View
I0122 Eneolithic Khvalynsk Culture, Russia 4936 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Khvalynsk II, Russia View
I0124 Hunter-Gatherer Samara, Russia 5660 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lebyazhinka, Russia View
I0370 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3300 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Eastern Orenburg. Pre-Ural steppe. Ishkinovka I, Russia View
I0441 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3010 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Buzuluk. Kurmanaevka III, Russia View
I0444 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3335 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Kutuluk River. Kutuluk, Russia View
I0439 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3322 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino I, Russia View
I0357 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3093 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino I, Russia View
I0429 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3339 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino I, Russia View
I1282 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1302 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1276 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1284 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1274 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1280 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1314 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1277 Chalcolithic Spain 2570 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1272 Chalcolithic Spain 2857 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1281 Chalcolithic Spain 2867 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1300 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I0807 Middle Neolithic Baalberge Culture, Germany 3977 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0559 Middle Neolithic Baalberge Culture, Germany 3646 BCE Quedlinburg Site IX, Germany View
I0560 Middle Neolithic Baalberge Culture, Germany 3637 BCE Quedlinburg Site IX, Germany View
I1546 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Benzingerode-Heimburg, Germany View
I0806 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2433 BCE Quedlinburg Site VII, Germany View
I0805 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2465 BCE Quedlinburg Site VII, Germany View
I0113 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2396 BCE Quedlinburg Site XII, Germany View
I0112 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2455 BCE Quedlinburg Site XII, Germany View
I1530 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2456 BCE Rothenschirmbach, Germany View
I0111 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2474 BCE Rothenschirmbach, Germany View
I0108 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2575 BCE Rothenschirmbach, Germany View
I0171 Late Neolithic Benzigerode-Heimburg, Germany 2288 BCE Benzingerode-Heimburg, Germany View
I0059 Late Neolithic Benzigerode-Heimburg, Germany 2343 BCE Benzingerode-Heimburg, Germany View
I1542 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1536 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1544 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1538 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1539 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2630 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0106 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2461 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1540 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1541 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1532 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0049 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2463 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0211 Hunter-Gatherer Karelia, Russia 7050 BCE Karelia. Yuzhnyy Oleni Ostrov, Russia View
I0061 Hunter-Gatherer Karelia, Russia 7050 BCE Karelia. Yuzhnyy Oleni Ostrov, Russia View
I0550 Late Neolithic Karsdorf, Germany 2572 BCE Karsdorf, Germany View
I0797 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5500 BCE Karsdorf, Germany View
I0795 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5215 BCE Karsdorf, Germany View
I0176 Middle Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Hungary 5209 BCE Szemely-Hegyes, Hungary View
I0551 Middle Neolithic Salzmuende Culture, Germany 3400 BCE Salzmünde-Schiepzig, Germany View
I0409 Early Neolithic Spain 5312 BCE Els Trocs, Spain View
I0411 Early Neolithic Spain 5298 BCE Els Trocs, Spain View
I0405 Middle to Late Neolithic Spain 3900 BCE La Mina, Spain View
I0174 Early Neolithic Starčevo Culture 1, Hungary 5712 BCE Alsonyek-Bataszek. Mérnöki telep, Hungary View
I0115 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 1959 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0117 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2276 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0804 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2139 BCE Eulau, Germany View
I0803 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2135 BCE Eulau, Germany View
I0164 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2027 BCE Quedlinburg Site VIII, Germany View
I0114 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2141 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0022 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5500 BCE Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart-Mühlhausen. Viesenhaeuser Hof, Germany View
I0026 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5500 BCE Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart-Mühlhausen. Viesenhaeuser Hof, Germany View
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
I1508 Early Neolithic Körös Culture, Hungary 5716 BCE Berettyóújfalu-Morotva-Liget, Hungary View
I1500 Middle Neolithic Alföld Linear Pottery Culture, Hungary 5301 BCE Kompolt-Kigyoser, Hungary View
I1100 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1102 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1099 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1103 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1101 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1097 Neolithic Turkey 6420 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0744 Neolithic Turkey 6400 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1096 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1098 Neolithic Turkey 6419 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0708 Neolithic Turkey 6224 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0745 Neolithic Turkey 6387 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0746 Neolithic Turkey 6070 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0707 Neolithic Turkey 6225 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0709 Neolithic Turkey 6223 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0725 Neolithic Turkey 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0736 Neolithic Turkey 6500 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1499 Middle Neolithic Alföld Linear Pottery Culture Bükk Group, Hungary 5286 BCE Garadna, Hungary View
I1502 Early Bronze Age Makó Culture, Hungary 2195 BCE Kompolt-Kigyoser, Hungary View
I1497 Late Chalcolithic Baden Culture, Hungary 3320 BCE Apc-Berekalya I, Hungary View
I1495 Late Neolithic Lengyel Culture, Hungary 4496 BCE Apc-Berekalya I, Hungary View
I1498 Middle Neolithic Alföld Linear Pottery Culture, Hungary 5297 BCE Debrecen Tocopart Erdoalja, Hungary View
I1507 Early Neolithic Hunter-Gatherer Körös Culture, Hungary 5788 BCE Tiszaszolos-Domaháza, Hungary View
I1496 Middle Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Hungary 5211 BCE Apc-Berekalya I, Hungary View
I1505 Middle Neolithic Alföld Linear Pottery Culture, Hungary 5210 BCE Polgár-Ferenci hát. M3-31, Hungary View
I1271 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1303 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I1549 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Benzingerode-Heimburg, Germany View
I0407 Middle to Late Neolithic Spain 3900 BCE La Mina, Spain View
I0025 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5500 BCE Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart-Mühlhausen. Viesenhaeuser Hof, Germany View
I0247 Questionable Iron Age Scythian, Russia 385 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Volga Steppes. Nadezhdinka, Russia View
I0423 Srubnaya Culture 1850 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Barinovka I, Russia View
I0443 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3300 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino II, Russia View
I0726 Neolithic Turkey 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0103 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2617 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0172 Middle Neolithic Esperstedt, Germany 3363 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0408 Middle to Late Neolithic Spain 3895 BCE La Mina, Spain View
I0412 Early Neolithic Spain 5309 BCE Els Trocs, Spain View
I0054 Early Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture, Germany 5216 BCE Unterwiederstedt, Germany View
I0104 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2563 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0116 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2137 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0118 Late Neolithic Alberstedt, Germany 2469 BCE Alberstedt, Germany View
I0406 Middle to Late Neolithic Spain 3900 BCE La Mina, Spain View
I0410 Early Neolithic Spain 5298 BCE Els Trocs, Spain View
I0413 Early Neolithic Spain 5304 BCE Els Trocs, Spain View
I0235 Srubnaya Culture 1850 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara Steppes. Rozhdestveno I, Russia View
I0374 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2800 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Nikolaevka III, Russia View
I1583 Neolithic Turkey 6424 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0581 Chalcolithic Spain 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I0440 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2887 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino II, Russia View
I0371 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2871 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Grachevka, Russia View
I0438 Early Bronze Samara Yamnaya 3020 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Luzkhi I, Russia View
I0418 Middle Bronze Poltavka 2131 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Utyevka VI, Russia View
I0099 Late Bronze Age Halberstadt, Germany 1202 BCE Halberstadt-Sonntagsfeld, Germany View
I0047 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Germany 2116 BCE Halberstadt-Sonntagsfeld, Germany View
I1534 Corded Ware Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I0060 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2404 BCE Rothenschirmbach, Germany View
I0723 Neolithic Turkey 6008 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0724 Neolithic Turkey 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0727 Neolithic Turkey 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I1580 Neolithic Turkey 6381 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1581 Neolithic Turkey 6386 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1585 Neolithic Turkey 6217 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1579 Neolithic Turkey 6221 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0854 Neolithic Turkey 6228 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0581 2900 BCE Burgos. Atapuerca. El Mirador Cave, Spain View
I0440 2887 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Lopatino II, Russia View
I0418 2131 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Utyevka VI, Russia View
I0438 3020 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Samara River. Luzkhi I, Russia View
I0585 5982 BCE Leon. La Brana-Arintero, Spain View
I1534 2500 BCE Esperstedt, Germany View
I1504 987 BCE Ludas-Varjú dűlő, Hungary View
I0099 1202 BCE Halberstadt-Sonntagsfeld, Germany View
I0047 2116 BCE Halberstadt-Sonntagsfeld, Germany View
I1579 6221 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1581 6386 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1580 6381 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1585 6217 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I1583 6424 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0727 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0724 6400 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0854 6228 BCE Northwest Anatolia. Marmara. Barcın, Turkey View
I0723 6008 BCE Menteşe, Turkey View
I0371 2871 BCE Samara Oblast. Volga River Valley. Sok River. Grachevka, Russia View
I0060 2404 BCE Rothenschirmbach, Germany View
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 (I0014) 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 92%
European Hunter-Gatherers 6%
Ancient Asians 2%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I0014) 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 96%
Northwestern European 57%
Finnish 39.0%
Scandinavian 18.2%
Eastern European 39%
Eastern European 39.0%
America 3%
America 3%
Native American 3.2%
Africa 1%
Congolese & Southern East African 1%
South East African 0.7%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample I0014 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

I0014,0.12873474,0.10308302,0.0901057,0.07761172,0.03465958,0.03129284,0.0004399,0.0071746,-0.0020285,-0.03205266,0.00163978,-0.00761116,0.0138286,0.01495774,-0.0010425,0.00020642,0.0014676,-0.00281078,0.00434006,0.00045306,0.00262348,-0.00442032,-0.00508172,0.00760418,0.00113983
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
Save 85% coupon: DNADAY85

Valid until April 25 2025