Sunday, October 11, 2015

Beaker Horseman and Two Women - Genetics Paper

Quick observations on this paper: Eight Thousand Years of Natural Selection in Europe, Matheison et al, 2015

QLB26 (a man) had mtdna previously reported in Brandt et al, 2013, now we have the rest of him. Although I don't believe the osteological observations are new, this is the first time I have read this of any Beaker... From Matheison et al:

"A notable observation from the physical anthropological examination is traits at the acetabulum and the femur head suggesting that the individual frequently rode horses."

Beaker Recreation from Tatort Eulau Mystery Documentary
...also included in the grave, ceramic sherds (apparently incomplete or intentionally destroyed), three flint arrowheads and unspecified animal bones.

Whether by horses or boats, mobility is key to the Beaker phenomenon.  I think this is why they have been such a troublesome group of ancients.


The two females are from the Benzingerode-Heimburg area, one is unspecified in age, the other is an old woman.  Both mtdna profiles were previously reported.

Hopefully, I can re-attack the paper later today or tomorrow...

3 comments:

  1. "A notable observation from the physical anthropological examination is traits at the acetabulum and the femur head suggesting that the individual frequently rode horses."

    Interesting.

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  2. Can't help linking this here: https://goo.gl/2IdaES. It's about horse riding figurative scenes in Galician petroglyphs, which the authors say it is reasonable to date in the transition of the 3rd and 2nd millennium.

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    Replies
    1. There are several evidences for early horse domestication in Iberia. It remains a controversial subject.
      Here's something I posted previously http://bellbeakerblogger.blogspot.com/2015/02/iberian-horse-vessel-footnote.html

      Thanks for posting the link

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