Ancient DNA reveals monozygotic newborn twins from the Upper Palaeolithic

Maria Teschler-Nicola (Corresponding author), Daniel Fernandes, Marc Händel, Thomas Einwögerer, Ulrich Simon, Christine Neugebauer-Maresch, Stefan Tangl, Patrick Heimel, Toni Dobsak, Anika Retzmann, Thomas Prohaska, Johanna Irrgeher, Douglas J. Kennett, Iñigo Olalde, David Reich, Ron Pinhasi (Corresponding author)

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

The Upper Palaeolithic double burial of newborns and the single burial of a ca. 3-month-old infant uncovered at the Gravettian site of Krems-Wachtberg, Austria, are of paramount importance given the rarity of immature human remains from this time. Genome-wide ancient DNA shows that the male infants of the double grave are the earliest reported case of monozygotic twins, while the single graves individual was their 3rd-degree male relative. We assessed the individuals ' age at death by applying histological and mu CT inspection of the maxillary second incisors (i2) in conjunction with C- and N-isotope ratios and Barium (Ba) intake as biomarker for breastfeeding. The results show that the twins were full-term newborns, and that while individual 2 died at birth, individual 1 survived for about 50 days. The findings show that Gravettian mortuary behaviour also included re-opening of a grave and manipulation of its layout and content. Maria Teschler-Nicola et al. use ancient DNA sequencing to report the earliest known case of human monozygotic twins found in a previously discovered Upper Palaeolithic burial site. Using bioanthropological and archaeological techniques, they also find that the twins were full-term newborns and that ancient mortuary behavior included re-opening of grave sites to bury related individuals together.

Original languageEnglish
Article number650
Number of pages11
JournalCommunications Biology
Volume3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Nov 2020

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106002 Biochemistry
  • 106014 Genomics

Keywords

  • AGE
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD
  • BIRTH
  • BONES
  • GENOME SEQUENCE
  • HISTORY
  • ISOTOPE ANALYSIS
  • KREMS
  • SKELETAL
  • TEETH

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