Early Celtic elites inherited power through maternal lines, ancient DNA reveals

Enormous ancient burial mounds filled with luxurious artifacts may link elite members of an extended family in southern Germany along maternal lines, a new DNA analysis shows. 

An uncle and nephew buried in two of the richest burial mounds, along with evidence of first-cousin inbreeding, point strongly toward matrilineal dynasties of elite power, according to the study, which was published Monday (June 3) in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Between about 600 and 400 B.C., during the Iron Age, burial mounds containing gold jewelry, wagons and imported goods were built in what is now southwestern Germany, eastern France and Switzerland. The elite people buried in these mounds wielded immense political and religious power and are often called "early Celtic princes and princesses." But researchers have disagreed as to whether these people gained their status through a lifetime of achievements or inherited their power.

In the new study, researchers analyzed the ancient DNA of 31 skeletons from seven elite-burial sites, dating to the sixth to fifth centuries B.C., within a roughly 40-square-mile (100 square kilometers) area of southwest Germany. Their aim was to determine if biological relationships could be found across this time and space, thereby suggesting the early Celts had elite dynasties.

The team discovered a second-degree relationship — likely an uncle and nephew — between two male individuals who shared maternal ancestry. Both men were buried in richly appointed neighboring mounds and appear to have grown up in the local area. According to study co-author Dirk Krausse, lead archaeologist for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, both men were also among the tallest on record in Iron Age Germany, standing around 5 feet, 11 inches (1.8 meters) tall, which suggests that they may have benefitted from good nutrition in addition to sharing genes for tall stature.

Related: Iron Age Celtic woman wearing fancy clothes buried in this 'tree coffin' in Switzerland

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Another biological link was found between a woman and a man who were buried in mounds about 60 miles (100 kilometers) and a century apart. This is an exceedingly rare discovery that probably represents a great-grandmother and her great-grandson, the study authors said.