A woman buried in Poland in the Early Bronze Age era

RISE154
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:
RISE154
Date:
1930 BCE - 1751 BCE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
K1a4a1
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
Cultural Period:
Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland
Location
Country:
Poland
Locality:
Szczepankowice
Coordinates:
50.9480, 16.9430
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Únětice culture, which dates back to the Early Bronze Age (approximately 2300–1600 BCE), is an archaeological culture that emerged in Central Europe and significantly influenced the development of European prehistoric cultures. The name \Únětice" is derived from a village in the Czech Republic where the culture was first identified. In Poland, this culture is considered part of the broader spread of the Únětice culture across Central Europe, including regions of modern-day Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and parts of Austria.

Geographic Extent and Environment

In Poland, the Únětice culture predominantly occupied the western and southwestern parts of the country, aligning with the modern Voivodeships of Lower Silesia, Opole, and parts of Lesser Poland. This region is characterized by its varied landscape of forests, rivers, and fertile plains, providing an abundant environment for early agrarian societies. The Vistula and Oder rivers facilitated trade and cultural exchange with neighboring regions.

Social Structure and Economy

The Únětice culture is noted for its complex social structure, which is inferred from burial practices and settlement patterns. Society was likely hierarchical, with evidence pointing towards the existence of an elite class. This is primarily derived from richly furnished graves, which often contain artifacts such as ceremonial weapons, jewelry, and other prestige items.

Economically, the Únětice people practiced agriculture, cultivating crops such as barley and wheat, and raised livestock, including cattle, pigs, and sheep. This was complemented by hunting and gathering, with evidence of fishing along the riverbanks. Metallurgy was particularly advanced for the time, with the Únětice people known for their production of bronze tools and ornaments, suggesting specialized craftsmanship and trade networks extending beyond their immediate geographical area.

Burial Practices and Beliefs

Burial customs provide crucial insights into the culture. The Únětice people are known for their distinctive burial mounds, or tumuli, which sometimes contained multiple burials signifying family or tribal units. These graves often contained pottery, metal objects, and personal ornaments, indicative of the social status of the deceased. The use of body ornaments made from amber suggests trade links with the Baltic region. Funerary rites likely included rituals that reflected belief systems focused on an afterlife, though specific religious structures or deities have not been clearly identified.

Material Culture and Technological Advances

The material culture of Únětice is rich and varied. Bronze production, as noted, was significant, and the region is known for high-quality weapons, tools, and ornamental items. Pottery styles are varied but often feature incised geometric patterns. The use of metal, both for utility and ornamentation, illustrates a society in which craftsmanship and trade were vital components of cultural identity.

Únětice metalwork sometimes included intricate spiral motifs and other complex designs, indicating a high level of skill and cultural exchange with neighboring groups. This technological sophistication points to a society with emerging specialization and economic complexity.

Cultural Connections and Influence

The Únětice culture is considered part of the larger sphere of Proto-Indo-European cultural development, which involves the spread of Indo-European language and cultural traits across Europe. While direct linguistic evidence is not available, the material culture suggests interactions and shared practices with other contemporary groups.

The culture’s influence is seen in subsequent Central European prehistoric cultures, notably the Tumulus and Lusatian cultures. Trade networks established by the Únětice people laid the groundwork for an interconnected European Bronze Age world.

Legacy and Conclusion

The legacy of the Únětice culture in Poland and Central Europe is seen in its contributions to the development of early European metallurgical skills, its complex social hierarchies, and extensive trade networks. The culture’s innovations and interactions significantly shaped the transition into more advanced Bronze Age societies across the region. As such, the Únětice culture represents a foundational era in the prehistoric development of Central Europe, contributing to the cultural and technological advancements that would shape the continent’s historical trajectory."

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Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
RISE150 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland 1886 BCE Przeclawice, Poland View
RISE109 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland 1959 BCE Wojkowice, Poland View
RISE154 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland 1930 BCE Szczepankowice, Poland View
RISE145 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland 2191 BCE Polwica, Poland View
RISE139 Early Bronze Age Unetice Culture, Poland 2137 BCE Chociwel, Poland View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE154) 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 43%
European Hunter-Gatherers 33%
Neolithic Farmers 19%
Ancient Asians 5%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE154) 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 92%
Northwestern European 76%
English 30.7%
Northwestern European 24.4%
Scandinavian 20.1%
Finnish 0.7%
Southern European 13%
Iberian 10.8%
Sardinian 1.9%
Eastern European 4%
Eastern European 3.8%
Asia 7%
Central Asian, Northern Indian & Pakistani 7%
Indian 7.0%
Africa 0%
North African 0%
America 0%
America 0%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample RISE154 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

RISE154,0.12570676,0.11415132,0.0517783,0.04697534,0.02517034,0.0231724,-0.00078652,-0.00296016,-0.00088336,-0.00675118,-0.00459974,0.00379738,-0.00690722,-0.00095706,0.01684512,-0.00126588,-0.01038594,0.00361798,0.00173342,0.00440566,0.00292422,-0.00108042,0.00357902,0.0069911,0.00088825
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia
Authors:
Allentoft ME, Sikora M, Sjögren KG
Abstract:

The Bronze Age of Eurasia (around 3000-1000 BC) was a period of major cultural changes. However, there is debate about whether these changes resulted from the circulation of ideas or from human migrations, potentially also facilitating the spread of languages and certain phenotypic traits. We investigated this by using new, improved methods to sequence low-coverage genomes from 101 ancient humans from across Eurasia. We show that the Bronze Age was a highly dynamic period involving large-scale population migrations and replacements, responsible for shaping major parts of present-day demographic structure in both Europe and Asia. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesized spread of Indo-European languages during the Early Bronze Age. We also demonstrate that light skin pigmentation in Europeans was already present at high frequency in the Bronze Age, but not lactose tolerance, indicating a more recent onset of positive selection on lactose tolerance than previously thought.

Link:
View Publication
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