A woman buried in Italy in the Early Neolithic era

UZZ077
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:
UZZ077
Date:
5476 BCE - 5365 BCE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
H
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
Cultural Period:
Early Neolithic Sicily
Location
Country:
Italy
Locality:
Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo
Coordinates:
38.1100, 12.7866
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Early Neolithic period in Sicily, as part of the broader Mediterranean Neolithic era, marks a significant transformation in human society, characterized by the transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled agricultural existence. This era, roughly spanning from 6000 to 4000 BCE, is pivotal in the cultural and technological developments in the region. Let's dive into a detailed description of this fascinating period.

Environmental Context

During the Early Neolithic, Sicily was a luxuriant land with a mild Mediterranean climate that supported diverse ecosystems. The island's landscape was dotted with forests and rich in natural resources, providing a conducive environment for early human settlement. The availability of fertile land played a crucial role in the development of agriculture.

Agricultural Advancements

The introduction of agriculture was one of the central features of the Neolithic revolution in Sicily. Cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley, and legumes became widespread. People also domesticated animals including sheep, goats, and pigs, which provided meat, milk, and wool, further enriching the dietary and living conditions of the communities.

Settlement Patterns

Settlements during this period became more permanent as communities established villages in fertile valleys or near water sources. These early Neolithic villages were typically composed of small, round or oval huts built using local materials, including wood, reeds, and mud. The shift from nomadic to sedentary life allowed for the development of complex social structures and community cooperation.

Technological Innovations

The Early Neolithic saw remarkable technological advances, particularly in the realm of tool-making. The Sicilian Neolithic communities crafted polished stone tools, which were more efficient and durable than their predecessors. Pottery also emerged during this period, with elaborately decorated vessels used for cooking, storage, and ceremonial purposes. This pottery often featured incised linear and geometric patterns.

Artistic and Ritualistic Developments

Art and ritual played a significant part in Early Neolithic Sicilian culture. The island's inhabitants created various artifacts that suggest a rich symbolic and ritualistic life, including figurines and ornaments made from bone, stone, and clay. Patterns and motifs on pottery and tools may represent early attempts at storytelling or religious expression, indicative of complex belief systems.

Trade and Exchange Networks

Though geographically isolated, Sicily was integrated into broader Mediterranean trade networks. Early Neolithic Sicilians traded obsidian, prized for its sharpness and beauty, with mainland Italy and other Mediterranean islands. This exchange facilitated cultural diffusion, including technologies, ideas, and goods, contributing to the Neolithic cultural tapestry.

Social Organization

Social life in Early Neolithic Sicily likely revolved around kinship and clan-based structures. The emergence of distinct social roles, perhaps related to age, sex, and skills, indicates early forms of social stratification. Rituals and communal gatherings might have played essential roles in maintaining societal cohesion and conveying shared values and beliefs.

Archaeological Discoveries

Archaeological evidence from sites such as Stentinello, named after the Neolithic culture known for its distinctive pottery styles, has provided extensive insights into early Neolithic life in Sicily. Excavations have revealed home structures, burial sites, and an array of tools and ceramics, which collectively paint a picture of a vibrant early agrarian society.

Conclusion

The Early Neolithic era in Sicily represents a dynamic period where the foundations of later historical developments were laid. The cultural, technological, and social transformations during this time reflect broader Mediterranean processes converging on the island. Understanding Sicily's early Neolithic context helps illuminate the intricate web of human development and interaction in the prehistoric Mediterranean landscape.

Related Samples
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
UZZ5054 Late Mesolithic Sicily, Italy 8798 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ4446 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6633 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ026 Early Mesolithic Sicily 9040 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ033 Neolithic Stentinello Culture in Sicily 5380 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ034 Neolithic Stentinello Culture in Sicily 5376 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ040 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6416 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ057 Early Bronze Age Sicily 2196 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ061 Middle Neolithic Sicily 4879 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ069 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6773 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ071 Late Mesolithic Sicily, Italy 6008 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ074 Neolithic Stentinello Culture in Sicily 5327 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ075 Neolithic Stentinello Culture in Sicily 5327 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ077 Early Neolithic Sicily 5476 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ079 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6694 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ080 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6694 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ081 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6693 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ082 Late Mesolithic Castelnovian Culture, Sicily, Italy 6694 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ087 Neolithic Stentinello Culture in Sicily 5311 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ088 Late Mesolithic Sicily, Italy 5987 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ096 Early Mesolithic Sicily 8800 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
UZZ099 Middle Neolithic Sicily 4050 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
UZZ077 Early Neolithic Sicily 5476 BCE Sicily. Grotta dell’Uzzo, Italy View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (UZZ077) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Neolithic Farmers 66%
European Hunter-Gatherers 22%
Western Steppe Pastoralists 6%
Ancient Asians 4%
Ancient Africans 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (UZZ077) 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%
Southern European 92%
Italian 37.6%
Sardinian 28.4%
Iberian 17.3%
Balkan 8.9%
Africa 5%
North African 4%
North African 4.1%
West African 1%
Ghanaian, Liberian, Sierra Leonean 1.2%
Asia 2%
Chinese & Southeast Asian 2%
Tibetan 1.8%
Oceania 1%
Melanesian 1%
Papuan 0.7%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample UZZ077 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

UZZ077,0.11035088,0.15944608,0.01372892,-0.05353866,0.04989024,-0.02628862,-0.00310324,0.00430302,0.04216516,0.06236458,-0.00173328,0.01016422,-0.01673284,-0.01218126,-0.01014736,0.00663408,0.0078135,0.0005182,0.00107596,-0.00132462,0.0025745,0.00666718,-0.01258976,-0.01776948,0.00310364
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Genomic and dietary discontinuities during the Mesolithic and Neolithic in Sicily
Authors:
Yu H, van de Loosdrecht MS, Mannino MA
Abstract:

Sicily is a key region for understanding the agricultural transition in the Mediterranean because of its central position. Here, we present genomic and stable isotopic data for 19 prehistoric Sicilians covering the Mesolithic to Bronze Age periods (10,700-4,100 yBP). We find that Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (HGs) from Sicily are a highly drifted lineage of the Early Holocene western European HGs, whereas Late Mesolithic HGs carry ∼20% ancestry related to northern and (south) eastern European HGs, indicating substantial gene flow. Early Neolithic farmers are genetically most similar to farmers from the Balkans and Greece, with only ∼7% of ancestry from local Mesolithic HGs. The genetic discontinuities during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic match the changes in material culture and diet. Three outlying individuals dated to ∼8,000 yBP; however, suggest that hunter-gatherers interacted with incoming farmers at Grotta dell'Uzzo, resulting in a mixed economy and diet for a brief interlude at the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition.

Link:
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