A man buried in Sweden in the Bronze Age era

RISE175
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:
RISE175
Date:
1396 BCE - 1131 BCE
Biological Sex:
Male
mtDNA:
T1a1
Y-DNA:
I-Y18697
Cultural Period:
Bronze Age Sweden
Location
Country:
Sweden
Locality:
Abekås I
Coordinates:
55.3970, 13.6000
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Bronze Age in Sweden, which lasted from approximately 1700 BCE to 500 BCE, was a significant era that laid much of the groundwork for what would later become the Viking Age. This period saw a remarkable transformation in societal structure, technological advancements, and cultural expressions, influencing the future development of Nordic societies.

Geography and Environment

During the Bronze Age, Sweden's geography was characterized by dense forests, numerous lakes, and a rugged coastline, which had just about reached its current post-ice-age formation. The climate was relatively mild and wetter than the present day, conducive to agriculture and settlement expansion. The natural environment provided an abundance of resources including forests for timber and game, rivers and sea routes for fishing and trade, and land for agriculture.

Economy and Trade

The economy of Bronze Age Sweden was diverse and significantly influenced by trade. The people engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, growing crops like barley and wheat and raising animals such as cattle, pigs, and sheep. The discovery of numerous bronze artifacts indicates the area's involvement in extensive trade networks stretching as far as Central Europe and the British Isles. These networks facilitated the exchange of amber, a precious commodity in the south, for tin and copper, essential for bronze-making, from areas like present-day England and the Iberian Peninsula.

Society and Settlement

Bronze Age society in Sweden was tribal and likely organized into chiefdoms. Villages were small and consisted of round or rectangular longhouses built of wood and thatch. There is evidence suggesting the emergence of social stratification, with a ruling elite that controlled trade and surplus resources. The societal structure saw communal efforts in agriculture and construction, fostering a sense of community identity.

Technological and Artistic Developments

The introduction of bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) marked a technological leap. Bronze allowed for the creation of more effective tools, weapons, and ornaments. This innovation led to improved agricultural output, enhanced warfare capabilities, and enriched cultural expressions.

Artistically, Bronze Age Sweden is renowned for its rock carvings, primarily found in Bohuslän and Östergötland. These petroglyphs depict scenes of daily life, wildlife, ships, and ritual activities, providing valuable insights into the era’s ideology and mythology. Metalwork also flourished, with finely crafted items such as axes, swords, and jewelry, reflecting both artistic skill and the sociocultural significance of these objects.

Religion and Beliefs

The religious landscape of Bronze Age Sweden was animistic and polytheistic. People believed in spirits and gods connected to nature and daily life. Rituals were performed at natural sites like groves, waterways, and mountains, which were considered sacred. The sun and fertility were significant aspects of their belief systems, often symbolized in rock carvings and metalwork, indicating their importance in agricultural and societal cycles.

Burial practices involved both inhumation and cremation, with the dead often buried with grave goods suggestive of their social status and beliefs in an afterlife. These practices evolved over the period, reflecting changing spiritual concepts and social dynamics.

Cultural Legacy

The cultural developments during the Bronze Age laid critical foundations for the later Norse culture and the Viking Age. Social structures, artistic motifs, and mythological concepts from the Bronze Age persisted and evolved, influencing the sagas, folklore, and traditions of later Scandinavian societies.

In conclusion, Bronze Age Sweden was a dynamic period characterized by technological innovation, extensive trade networks, artistic expression, and evolving social structures. The impacts of this era are echoed in the cultural and historical narratives of Scandinavia, showcasing an era of significant transformation and development.

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I4143 2456 BCE Landau an der Isar, Germany View
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RISE408 1212 BCE Norabak, Armenia View
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RISE413 1919 BCE Nerquin Getashen, Armenia View
RISE416 1616 BCE Nerquin Getashen, Armenia View
RISE423 1407 BCE Nerquin Getashen, Armenia View
RISE431 2286 BCE Leki Male, Poland View
RISE434 2880 BCE Tiefbrunn, Germany View
RISE435 2865 BCE Tiefbrunn, Germany View
RISE436 2869 BCE Tiefbrunn, Germany View
RISE446 2662 BCE Bergrheinfeld, Germany View
RISE471 1687 BCE Untermeitingen, Germany View
RISE479 2000 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE480 1700 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE483 2000 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE484 2000 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE486 2136 BCE Lombardy. Remedello di Sotto, Italy View
RISE487 3485 BCE Lombardy. Remedello di Sotto, Italy View
RISE489 2909 BCE Lombardy. Remedello di Sotto, Italy View
RISE493 1518 BCE Sabinka 2, Russia View
RISE495 1400 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE496 1416 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE497 1400 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE499 1400 BCE Bystrovka, Russia View
RISE500 1700 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE502 1497 BCE Bystrovka, Russia View
RISE503 1731 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE504 709 CE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE505 1862 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE510 2848 BCE Bateni, Russia View
RISE511 2909 BCE Bateni, Russia View
RISE512 1488 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE523 1531 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
RISE524 1300 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
RISE525 1300 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
RISE546 3300 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE547 2886 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE548 3300 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE550 3335 BCE Peshany V, Russia View
RISE552 2846 BCE Ulan V, Russia View
RISE553 927 BCE Afontova Gora, Russia View
RISE554 1009 BCE Afontova Gora, Russia View
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RISE595 1200 BCE Velika Gruda, Montenegro View
RISE598 906 BCE Turlojiske, Lithuania View
RISE600 1000 BCE Verh-Uimon, Russia View
RISE601 1000 BCE Verh-Uimon, Russia View
RISE602 1000 BCE Sary-Bel, Russia View
RISE492 Karasuk Culture, Russia 393 BCE Sabinka-2 (Republic of Khakassia, Beysky District), Russia View
RISE559 Bell Beaker Culture, Lech Valley, Germany 2459 BCE Augsburg (Bavaria), Germany View
RISE562 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2456 BCE Dingolfing-Landau (Bavaria, Landau an der Isar), Germany View
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RISE564 Bell Beaker Culture, Germany 2500 BCE Osterhofen-Altenmarkt (Lower Bavaria, Deggendorf, Osterhofen), Germany View
RISE566 Bell Beaker culture 2282 BCE Kněževes (Středočeský kraj, okres Praha-západ), Czechia View
RISE567 Bell Beaker culture 2800 BCE Kněževes (Středočeský kraj, okres Praha-západ), Czechia View
RISE568 Early Slavic Culture of Bohemia 600 CE Brandýsek (Central Bohemian Region, Kladno District), Czechia View
RISE569 Early Slavic Culture of Bohemia 660 CE Brandýsek (Central Bohemian Region, Kladno District), Czechia View
RISE577 Early Bronze Age Únětice Culture 2500 BCE Velké-Přílepy (Středočeský kraj, okres Praha-západ), Czechia View
RISE586 Únětice culture 2800 BCE Moravská-Nová-Ves (South Moravian Region, Břeclav District), Czechia View
RISE596 Montenegrin Iron Age 800 BCE Velika Gruda, Montenegro View
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
RISE175 Bronze Age Sweden 1396 BCE Abekås I, Sweden View
RISE210 Bronze Age Sweden 1436 BCE Ängamöllan, Sweden View
RISE207 Bronze Age Sweden 1495 BCE Ängamöllan, Sweden View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE175) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

European Hunter-Gatherers 39%
Western Steppe Pastoralists 32%
Neolithic Farmers 26%
Ancient Africans 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE175) 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 85%
Finnish 31.1%
English 23.6%
Scandinavian 15.8%
Northwestern European 14.6%
Southern European 11%
Iberian 8.2%
Sardinian 2.5%
Eastern European 0%
Asia 4%
Central Asian, Northern Indian & Pakistani 4%
Pakistan 3.8%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample RISE175 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

RISE175,0.13256678,0.12822144,0.05514246,0.0477066,0.0383212,0.0221984,0.0029102,0.00657702,0.00725336,-0.00746102,-0.00687938,0.0047913,0.00371224,-0.00710902,0.0133893,0.00168076,-0.01203508,0.0014252,-0.00106552,0.0008349,0.0070661,0.00508174,0.0001235,0.00931102,-0.00135154
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:
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