A commentary of “the intersection of archaeology and genomics: Sparking the advances in cognitive human society”: 10 remarkable discoveries from 2020 in Nature

Cassidy et al. of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, studied the social structure of farming communities, focusing on the ancient nobles buried in passage tombs (a channel-style megalithic tomb structure in Europe). Newgrange, built by complex engineering technology, is the most famous stone tunnel tomb in Ireland and one of the most famous prehistoric cemeteries in the country. The tomb is at the end of a stone-lined passage, with an opening like a window above the mausoleum entrance. On the shortest day of the year (winter solstice), this opening allows sunlight to enter the tomb. Researchers conducted DNA analysis of ancient human remains found in the tomb, revealing a rare and unexpected incident of incest. A man buried in Newgrange's tomb about 5000 years ago was the offspring of an incestuous marriage: his parents were either siblings or parents and children. This discovery led the researchers to speculate that the nobles associated with this magnificent tomb may have maintained their bloodlines through incest.①① Original source in Chinese: Kai Ye, The intersection of archaeology and genomics: Sparking the advances in cognitive human society, Bulletin of National Natural Science Foundation of China. 35 (2) (2021) 238-239.