A woman buried in Hungary in the Early Bronze Age era

The Early Bronze Age Makó culture, which thrived approximately between 2500 and 2000 BCE in present-day Hungary, is a fascinating archaeological culture distinguished by its European and Indo-European connections. This era marks a period of significant cultural transformations and interactions as local communities engaged in more complex social, economic, and technological exchanges.
Geographical Context
The Makó culture was situated in the Carpathian Basin, a geographically advantageous location that facilitated trade and cultural interactions between various European regions. The basin's rich soil and favorable climate provided ideal conditions for agricultural development, supporting the sustenance and growth of early communities.
Origins and Influences
The Makó culture exhibits influences from both indigenous European populations and Indo-European migrations. This period is characterized by the amalgamation of local Neolithic traditions with new cultural elements introduced by Indo-European groups, leading to the development of distinct social and cultural traits.
Material Culture
Pottery
The pottery from the Makó culture is typified by its unique decorative styles and manufacturing techniques. It often features geometric designs, including incised or stamped patterns. These ceramics were both functional and ceremonial, indicating their central role in domestic and ritual life.
Metallurgy
The Makó culture saw the introduction and proliferation of metalworking, especially in copper and bronze. Metallurgical advancements facilitated the creation of tools, weapons, and ornaments that played significant roles in daily life and trade. The presence of metal items, including daggers, axes, and ornaments, indicates a society that was becoming more stratified and complex.
Settlement Patterns
Communities during the Makó era typically inhabited small, dispersed settlements. These were usually located near rivers or fertile plains, which allowed for effective agriculture and trade. Some archaeological evidence also suggests the existence of fortifications, implying a need for defense and organized communal settlements.
Economy
With agriculture as their primary economic activity, people of the Makó culture cultivated cereals and legumes. The fertile lands of the Carpathian Basin supported diverse agriculture, allowing for surplus production which facilitated trade. Herding and pastoralism also played crucial roles, as cattle, sheep, and goats were common livestock.
Social Structure
The advent of metallurgy and surplus agriculture may have led to more pronounced social hierarchies within the Makó culture. The emergence of elite classes is suggested by the distribution of wealth items in burials, which indicates differentiated statuses within the society. Leaders likely controlled trade networks and resource distribution.
Burial Practices
Makó culture burial practices provide significant insight into their belief systems and social organization. Burials often included grave goods such as pottery, tools, and ornaments, indicating beliefs concerning the afterlife and the importance of social status. Variations in grave offerings suggest a stratified society with complex social roles.
Indo-European Connections
The Makó culture is an important component in understanding the spread of Indo-European languages and peoples across Europe. The cultural attributes and artifacts found in Makó sites reflect a synthesis of local and wider influences, highlighting the mobility and connectivity of early Bronze Age populations. Linguistic studies suggest that the movements during this period contributed to the dispersal and establishment of Indo-European languages in the region.
Legacy and Impact
The Makó culture played a crucial role in the larger context of the Early Bronze Age in Europe. It acted as a cultural bridge, facilitating exchanges between the Balkans, the Central European plains, and the steppes. Its advancements in metallurgy, trade, and social organization paved the way for subsequent cultures, setting the stage for continued cultural evolution and technological innovations.
In sum, the Early Bronze Age Makó culture of Hungary represents a pivotal period of cultural synthesis and transformation. Through its material culture, settlement patterns, and socio-economic structures, the Makó culture provides invaluable insights into the early Indo-European populations in Central Europe and their interactions with indigenous communities.
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 |
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I1502) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.
Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I1502) 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.
The G25 coordinates for the sample I1502 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
I1502,0.13205488,0.13732006,0.06346524,0.04108146,0.0468778,0.01692386,0.00622944,0.01129386,0.01225762,0.00351114,-0.00836116,0.00066342,0.00414084,0.01323028,-0.00537192,0.0056095,-0.00011932,-0.00067108,0.0030096,0.00062862,0.00165574,0.00010352,0.00273926,-0.00652514,-0.0002611
Genome-wide patterns of selection in 230 ancient Eurasians
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.