Ancient DNA reveals impact of the “Beaker Phenomenon” on ancient Europeans

Anthropology Professor Katina Lillios among international team of scientific contributors
Sunday, February 18, 2018

Katina Lillios
Professor Katina Lillios

In the largest study of ancient DNA ever conducted, an international team of scientists, including University of Iowa professor Katina Lillios (Anthropology), has revealed the complex story behind one of the defining periods in European history. The study is published this week in the journal Nature.

Between 4,700-4,400 years ago, a new, bell-shaped pottery style spread across western and central Europe. For over a century, archaeologists have tried to establish whether the spread of “Beaker” pottery represented a large-scale migration of people or was simply due to the spread of new ideas. This study, using ancient DNA data from 400 skeletons drawn from sites across Europe, shows that both sides of the debate are right. The paper shows that the Beaker phenomenon spread between Iberia and central Europe without significant movement of people. However, it also demonstrates that the Beaker expansion achieved a near-complete turnover of the population in Britain.

Lillios contributed bone samples from the archaeological site of Bolores, in Portugal, which she excavated between 2007-2012 with University of Iowa colleague Joe Alan Artz and students. Excavations at Bolores were funded by the National Science Foundation and University of Iowa Social Sciences Funding Program grants.

“These results are very intriguing, especially in light of the climatic and environmental changes that have been documented at around the same time in some parts of Europe, such as increased aridity," Lillios said. "The interrelationship between these environmental, demographic, and cultural shifts at the local level is a topic that requires much more investigation.”

Investigations such as this one, which involved 144 archaeologists and geneticists from around the world, show the potentials of broad collaboration in the sciences.

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Issued by the University of Iowa on behalf of a multi-institutional team.

Press contacts:

Katina Lillios, Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa (319 335 3023)

David Reich, Department of Genetics, Harvard University Medical School (617 432 6548)

 

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