A woman buried in Italy in the Neolithic era
Neolithic Sardinia, an era marking the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to more settled, agrarian communities, is a fascinating period in the prehistory of the island and the broader Mediterranean region. This era is characterized by significant cultural, technological, and social developments that have left a lasting impact on the island's history.
Chronological Overview
The Neolithic period in Sardinia is typically divided into several phases, spanning from approximately 6000 to 2300 BCE. These periods are:
- Early Neolithic (c. 6000 - 5000 BCE)
- Middle Neolithic (c. 5000 - 4000 BCE)
- Late Neolithic (c. 4000 - 3200 BCE)
- Final Neolithic (c. 3200 - 2300 BCE)
Cultural and Technological Developments
During the Neolithic, Sardinia witnessed major technological innovations and cultural changes:
Agriculture and Domestication: The introduction of agriculture was a fundamental aspect of Neolithic life. Early Sardinians practiced mixed farming, cultivating crops such as wheat, barley, and legumes, and domesticating animals like sheep, goats, and pigs. This transition laid the groundwork for more permanent settlements.
Pottery and Craftsmanship: Pottery production became more sophisticated, with different phases characterized by distinct styles and decorations, such as Cardial ware in the early phase, identified by its decorative impressions. Later, styles evolved, showing more complexity and regional diversity.
Tool Innovation: Neolithic Sardinians crafted advanced stone tools. They utilized local resources for making polished stone axes, which were crucial for clearing land for agriculture and constructing dwellings. Obsidian, sourced from the nearby island of Pantelleria, was highly prized for its sharpness and was widely traded.
Social Organization and Settlements
The Neolithic saw a shift from nomadic lifestyles to more stable communities, leading to the establishment of villages and complex social structures:
Villages and Architecture: Early Neolithic settlements were characterized by circular or oval huts made from local materials such as wood, mud, and stone. As the population grew, these became more elaborate, with organized layouts and communal areas indicating a shift towards more sedentary lifestyles.
Burial Practices: Neolithic Sardinians had distinct mortuary practices. Communal and individual burials in caves or constructed tombs were common, often accompanied by grave goods. The presence of megalithic structures, such as dolmens and menhirs, from the later Neolithic period suggests a complex spiritual and ritual life.
Artistic Expression and Beliefs
Art and symbolic expressions provide insight into the beliefs and values of Neolithic Sardinians:
Rock Art and Symbolism: The Neolithic period is notable for the emergence of rock carvings and petroglyphs. These often depict symbolic motifs and figures, providing insights into the religious and artistic inclinations of the inhabitants.
Spirituality and Rituals: The construction of megalithic monuments during the Late and Final Neolithic periods indicates the development of ritualistic practices. These structures may have served religious or astronomical purposes, reflecting complex belief systems.
Interaction and Trade
Sardinia's strategic location in the Mediterranean facilitated interactions with neighboring regions:
Trade Networks: Evidence of extensive trade networks is found in the exchange of goods such as obsidian, pottery, and other cultural artifacts. Sardinia's connections extended to mainland Italy, Sicily, and beyond, highlighting its role as a significant player in Mediterranean Prehistory.
Cultural Influences: Exchanges with other Mediterranean cultures influenced local customs and technologies, leading to a dynamic fusion of ideas and practices.
Legacy of Neolithic Sardinia
The Neolithic era laid the foundational aspects of Sardinian culture, influencing subsequent periods, including the Nuragic civilization. The advancements in agriculture, craftsmanship, social organization, and trade established during this time were crucial in shaping the island's historical trajectory.
Neolithic Sardinia is a testament to the island's enduring human creativity and adaptability, reflecting broader patterns of development during the Mediterranean Neolithic era. The archaeological record, including settlements, tools, and monuments, provides a rich tapestry of information revealing the complexity and innovation of these early communities.
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I15943) 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 (I15943) 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 I15943 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
I15943,0.11615956,0.16142536,0.02262156,-0.04595964,0.0576678,-0.02286628,-0.00283532,0.00565996,0.04050428,0.07197828,-0.00363724,0.01467888,-0.02584416,-0.01470236,-0.01152304,0.00475328,0.01431084,-0.00059528,-0.0012586,-0.00390024,-0.00099556,0.00350304,-0.0117016,-0.01958044,0.00454639
The spread of steppe and Iranian-related ancestry in the islands of the western Mediterranean
Steppe-pastoralist-related ancestry reached Central Europe by at least 2500 BC, whereas Iranian farmer-related ancestry was present in Aegean Europe by at least 1900 BC. However, the spread of these ancestries into the western Mediterranean, where they have contributed to many populations that live today, remains poorly understood. Here, we generated genome-wide ancient-DNA data from the Balearic Islands, Sicily and Sardinia, increasing the number of individuals with reported data from 5 to 66. The oldest individual from the Balearic Islands (~2400 BC) carried ancestry from steppe pastoralists that probably derived from west-to-east migration from Iberia, although two later Balearic individuals had less ancestry from steppe pastoralists. In Sicily, steppe pastoralist ancestry arrived by ~2200 BC, in part from Iberia; Iranian-related ancestry arrived by the mid-second millennium BC, contemporary to its previously documented spread to the Aegean; and there was large-scale population replacement after the Bronze Age. In Sardinia, nearly all ancestry derived from the island's early farmers until the first millennium BC, with the exception of an outlier from the third millennium BC, who had primarily North African ancestry and who-along with an approximately contemporary Iberian-documents widespread Africa-to-Europe gene flow in the Chalcolithic. Major immigration into Sardinia began in the first millennium BC and, at present, no more than 56-62% of Sardinian ancestry is from its first farmers. This value is lower than previous estimates, highlighting that Sardinia, similar to every other region in Europe, has been a stage for major movement and mixtures of people.