A man buried in Italy in the Late Bronze Age era
The Late Bronze Age in Sardinia, prominently associated with the Nuragic civilization, is a period that spans approximately from 1500 to 1200 BCE. This era is marked by significant cultural, architectural, and social developments which have fascinated historians and archaeologists alike. The Nuragic civilization derives its name from the uraghe," imposing megalithic structures that are central to understanding this culture.
Architecture and Engineering: The most distinctive feature of the Nuragic civilization is its architecture, particularly the construction of nuraghi. These are tower-like structures made of large stones, typically circular in base and tapering as they ascend, reminiscent of today's truncated cones. Some nuraghi exceed 20 meters in height. Their purposes are debated, with suggestions ranging from defensive outposts to religious temples or even community centers. Alongside the nuraghi, this era also saw the construction of other communal structures such as "villaggi," or village complexes, consisting of huts and public spaces, and "tombe dei giganti" (Giants' graves), which are collective burial sites marked by impressive stone fronts.
Social Structure: The construction of nuraghi and village complexes suggests a highly organized society capable of mobilizing the labor and resources required for such projects. There is evidence of social stratification, possibly signifying a chiefdom or tribal society structure where power dynamics played a crucial role in community organization and day-to-day life. Each community was likely centered around a nuraghe, indicating the role these structures played in defining territorial settlement patterns.
Economy and Subsistence: The Nuragic people practiced mixed farming, including agriculture and animal husbandry. Archaeological findings indicate they grew cereals like wheat and barley and raised domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, and pigs. The surrounding Mediterranean environment facilitated the growth of olive trees and vineyards, contributing to a rich agricultural tradition. The Nuragic people were also adept metallurgists, renowned for their skills in bronze working, as seen in the numerous artifacts, tools, and weapons unearthed. Trade played a vital role in this era, with evidence of extensive connections with mainland Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Religion and Rituals: Nuragic religion and rituals remain subjects of intrigue, chiefly interpreted through archaeological finds and symbolic artifacts. Sacred wells and springs, often elaborately constructed, hint at the significance of water in their spiritual practice. The presence of votive offerings, such as bronze figurines and other items found in these sacred contexts, signals ritualistic activities. Additionally, some nuraghi and Giants' graves may have had religious or ceremonial purposes, further embedding them into the spiritual life of the Nuragic people.
Art and Iconography: Nuragic art is primarily characterized by bronze statuettes representing humans, animals, and mythological beings. These works of art offer insights into the clothing, armaments, and daily life of the Nuragic people. Despite being small, these figures display immense detail, suggesting the presence of a skilled artisan class and possibly a complex belief system involving these figures.
Interaction and Influence: The position of Sardinia in the center of the Mediterranean allowed for significant interaction with other contemporary cultures, such as the Mycenaeans, Phoenicians, and later on, the Etruscans. These interactions enriched the Nuragic civilization, bringing new ideas, goods, and influences that blended into their culture while also allowing Sardinia to serve as a strategic maritime hub of the time.
The Late Bronze Age Sardinia under the Nuragic civilization is marked by its monumental structures, complex society, and rich cultural expressions. It represents a unique prehistoric culture that has left an indelible mark on the history of the Mediterranean world, adding depth to our understanding of prehistoric Europe."
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I3642) 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 (I3642) 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 I3642 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
I3642,0.11971988,0.16153712,0.0234972,-0.04444208,0.05809072,-0.02212044,-0.00229096,0.00555842,0.03969846,0.07194646,-0.00378568,0.01496658,-0.02659662,-0.01477094,-0.0115472,0.0049053,0.01414138,-0.00012798,-0.00045742,-0.00409632,-0.00054506,0.00431862,-0.01233576,-0.01967076,0.00437084
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.