Assembling ancestors: the manipulation of Neolithic and Gallo-Roman skeletal remains in Belgium

[Ajeje Brazorf]

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/assembling-ancestors-the-manipulation-of-neolithic-and-galloroman-skeletal-remains-at-pommeroeul-belgium/A25B2FBB53A9DE7665F30AD14F06A22A

The paper, "Assembling ancestors: the manipulation of Neolithic and Gallo-Roman skeletal remains at Pommerœul, Belgium", offers significant insights into complex funerary traditions and cultural continuity from the Neolithic into the Roman period. The grave at Pommerœul represents a rare case where bones spanning millennia were intentionally combined, suggesting long-standing reverence for ancestors and complex interactions between Neolithic and Roman practices in this region. This finding encourages re-evaluation of similar burials for potential composite constructions, expanding understanding of ancestral veneration in ancient Europe.

Main Findings and Analysis

1. Composite Burial Discovery: Grave 26 contained bones from at least seven individuals, spanning different Neolithic periods, alongside a cranium from the Gallo-Roman period. Radiocarbon dating confirmed that the post-cranial remains (such as femurs and tibiae) dated back to the Late Neolithic, while the cranium and a bronze pin were from the Roman era.

2. Bioarchaeological Methods: A combination of ancient DNA (aDNA), radiocarbon dating, and isotopic analysis revealed that the skeleton was an assemblage of bones from various Neolithic individuals, some of whom lived in different centuries. The genetic data suggested that the individuals were not closely related, indicating that the composite burial may have been a symbolic or ritual act rather than a family-based burial.

3. Cultural Implications: This burial adds to the limited but fascinating record of intentional post-mortem manipulation in ancient Europe. Similar assemblages of mixed remains have been seen elsewhere, such as in Cladh Hallan, Scotland, and Ismant el-Kharab in Egypt. This study suggests that the Neolithic community might have viewed the composite skeleton as an ancestral figure with ritual significance, potentially representing community identity or linking to the past.

4. Roman Period Disturbance or Contribution: The Roman cranium and pin raise questions about whether Gallo-Roman people intentionally modified the existing Neolithic burial. It’s hypothesized that the Romans could have “completed” the burial by adding a cranium or otherwise engaged with it as a form of ancestral reverence or superstition, although the exact motivations are unclear.

5. Archaeological and Genetic Context: Genetic analysis places the cranium in a closer relationship to Roman individuals from a nearby site, indicating a potentially shared ancestry within the region. This genetic “cousin” connection suggests ongoing connections or cultural awareness of ancestral presence in the landscape.

6. Symbolic Role of the Burial: The assembly of this composite individual, intentionally posed in a flexed position associated with Neolithic traditions, likely served a symbolic function. The practice might reflect a desire to honor or ritually include ancestors within the community’s burial practices, especially as the Romans began to settle in the area.

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[Ajeje Brazorf]

Sample I18605 (Cranium from Grave 26, Pommerœul)

• Type and Origin: Cranial bone; this cranium was part of the composite burial (Grave 26) at Pommerœul.
• Period: Roman-era dating based on archaeological context and genetic evidence.
• Radiocarbon Dating: Attempts to radiocarbon-date the petrous part of the cranium failed due to poor collagen preservation.
• Ancestry: Genetic data place I18605 in a location on the principal component analysis (PCA) chart that aligns it with individuals from the Late Neolithic to modern populations in the Low Countries. This suggests a high percentage of Steppe pastoralist ancestry.
• Relatedness: This sample shared large identical-by-descent (IBD) genetic segments with two individuals from the Gallo-Roman cemetery in Tongeren (I21058 and I21059), suggesting a genetic relationship within a few dozen degrees of separation.
• Notable Feature: The high-quality genetic data allowed for a detailed analysis, yielding approximately 616,997 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
• Hypotheses on Origin:
• The presence of this cranium in a Neolithic context is hypothesized to result from Gallo-Roman-period manipulation, possibly replacing or adding to the original Neolithic cranium in the composite burial.


Sample I21058 (Child, Tongeren)

• Type and Origin: Skeletal remains of a child, uncovered in the southwestern Roman cemetery of Tongeren, approximately 150 km from Pommerœul.
• Period: Gallo-Roman period, with a radiocarbon date range of cal AD 211–335 (1796 ± 24 BP).
• Age and Sex: A female child, estimated to be 4–5 years old at death.
• Relatedness: Genetic analysis indicates that I21058 is a genetic sibling of I21059, with both individuals sharing a large genetic segment (estimated 16 centimorgans) with I18605, suggesting they were "genetic cousins."
• Ancestry: Isotope analysis showed that both I21058 and her sibling I21059 were born and lived in the Tongeren region, indicating local ancestry with no signs of recent migration.
• Context and Burial: I21058 was found buried alongside I21059 and an adult male, though genetic analyses of uniparental markers suggest this adult male was not their father.


Sample I21059 (Child, Tongeren)

• Type and Origin: Skeletal remains of a child, also from the southwestern Roman cemetery of Tongeren, alongside I21058.
• Period: Gallo-Roman period, consistent with the dating of the cemetery.
• Age and Sex: A male child, estimated to be 2–4 years old at death.
• Relatedness: Genetic analysis confirms that I21059 is the sibling of I21058. This sample also shares an estimated 15 centimorgan IBD segment with I18605, suggesting that both I21058 and I21059 are genetic relatives (likely cousins) of I18605.
• Ancestry: Like I21058, isotope analysis indicated a local birth and upbringing in Tongeren, showing continuity within the local population.
• Context and Burial: Found buried with I21058 and an unrelated adult male. This burial context, particularly the co-burial of siblings, suggests possible familial burial practices in the Roman-period Tongeren cemetery.


Sample I21570 (Right Tibia from Grave 26, Pommerœul)

• Type and Origin: Right tibia bone, part of the composite burial in Grave 26 at Pommerœul.
• Period: Late Neolithic, based on radiocarbon dating.
• Radiocarbon Dating: Dated to approximately 3017–2906 cal BC, making it consistent with the Neolithic period.
• Ancestry: Plotted on the PCA between French Neolithic farmers and western hunter-gatherers, which is typical of individuals from early European farming populations with some hunter-gatherer ancestry.
• Relatedness: The genetic profile of I21570 shows no direct familial relationship to the other bones in Grave 26, further supporting the hypothesis that this composite burial was assembled from multiple, unrelated individuals.
• Genetic Quality: Genetic data for this sample covered approximately 159,871 SNPs, allowing for a moderate level of genetic analysis.

[Ajeje Brazorf]

Belgium_Pommerœul_LN:I21570__BC_2961__Cov_14.50%,0 .119514,0.170609,0.070144,0.014212,0.098172,-0.003904,0.007285,0.011307,0.061153,0.069796,0.000 974,0.006145,-0.01665,-0.012661,0.005157,0.013126,0.004694,0.010769,0.003 268,-0.006878,0.030072,0.011994,-0.019966,-0.068443,0.0097
Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58% ,0.12862,0.145221,0.065619,0.062985,0.037238,0.017 012,0.004935,-0.003923,0.000409,-0.003827,-0.001624,-0.005395,-0.005946,-0.006055,0.019408,-0.012331,-0.025816,0.005068,0.003268,0.002626,0.002496,0.006 306,0.000246,0.008676,-0.007544
Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%, 0.125205,0.129988,0.06675,0.051034,0.030467,0.0195 22,0.004465,0.006692,0.003477,0.002369,-0.00406,0.002248,-0.016204,-0.02202,0.02348,0.01432,0.009388,0.003167,-0.00176,0.004127,0.007362,0.008285,-0.006162,0.016508,0.003712
Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%, 0.124067,0.136081,0.057322,0.046512,0.036007,0.019 801,0.009165,0.013384,-0.001636,0.006378,0.001624,0.005545,-0.011893,-0.011836,0.020358,-0.00305,-0.023078,0.001014,0.001383,-0.001376,0.013851,0.01286,-0.009983,0.010242,0.007544


Distance to: Belgium_Pommerœul_LN:I21570__BC_2961__Cov_14.50%
0.03075949 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150641__BC_3250__Cov_47.37%
0.03484358 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150637__BC_3250__Cov_49.90%
0.03572765 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150613_043__BC_3250__Cov_49. 81%
0.03590736 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150628__BC_3250__Cov_16.75%
0.03680187 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150203__BC_3250__Cov_9.03%
0.03907035 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150629__BC_3250__Cov_51.53%
0.03910369 Germany_Wartberg_MN:Warburg_2__BC_3111__Cov_75.74%
0.03968525 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150619__BC_3250__Cov_51.11%
0.03996878 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150618__BC_3250__Cov_34.31%
0.04021015 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150290__BC_3250__Cov_16.91%


Distance to: Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58%
0.02542624 Danish_GSM1985817
0.02581908 Icelandic_NA15762
0.02601747 Denmark_BA_Strøby_Ladeplads:NEO93__BC_1788__Cov_un known
0.02622628 England_BellBeaker:LUT1__BC_1533__Cov_87.74%
0.02623325 Molfish/Creoda_father_scaled
0.02633102 Danish_GSM1985729
0.02692928 Greenland_LateNorse.SG:VK190_noUDG.SG__AD_1116__Co v_98.87%
0.02693858 Ireland_Kilteasheen_AngloSaxon_EMedieval_Norman:KI L016.B_noUDG__AD_1000__Cov_80.00%
0.02748330 Orcadian_HGDP00799
0.02828021 England_MBA:I7579__BC_1399__Cov_66.50%


Distance to: Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%
0.01910847 England_Saxon.SG:SED005.SG__AD_750__Cov_62.42%
0.01998234 England_EastYorkshire_MIA_LIA:I5503__BC_115__Cov_7 3.77%
0.02045310 Orcadian_HGDP00802
0.02078013 England_LBA:I7629__BC_1065__Cov_63.18%
0.02155329 AutisticApe25_scaled
0.02158614 England_Viking.SG:VK258_noUDG.SG__AD_997__Cov_56.3 2%
0.02210967 JamesBond007/Teutorigos/NewAlbion_scaled
0.02233682 England_Saxon_Kent:BUK055__AD_600__Cov_58.42%
0.02254614 Norwegian_NOR106
0.02323442 England_Saxon:OAI012__AD_750__Cov_71.78%


Distance to: Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%
0.01923292 ajc347_mother_scaled
0.02082745 French_Brittany_Rennes_B_78
0.02122059 J_Man/Black_Wolf_mother_scaled
0.02238744 Dutch_GSM1634035
0.02399496 Netherlands_Groningen_Saxon_Medieval:GRO013.A__AD_ 875__Cov_77.15%
0.02440782 Welsh_WalesBK33
0.02515440 English_HG02215
0.02532918 French_Côtes-d'armor_EXPL0054
0.02551878 dsm_scaled
0.02566276 Scottish_Orkney_HG00123

[celticdragongod]

Belgium_Pommerœul_LN:I21570__BC_2961__Cov_14.50%,0 .119514,0.170609,0.070144,0.014212,0.098172,-0.003904,0.007285,0.011307,0.061153,0.069796,0.000 974,0.006145,-0.01665,-0.012661,0.005157,0.013126,0.004694,0.010769,0.003 268,-0.006878,0.030072,0.011994,-0.019966,-0.068443,0.0097
Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58% ,0.12862,0.145221,0.065619,0.062985,0.037238,0.017 012,0.004935,-0.003923,0.000409,-0.003827,-0.001624,-0.005395,-0.005946,-0.006055,0.019408,-0.012331,-0.025816,0.005068,0.003268,0.002626,0.002496,0.006 306,0.000246,0.008676,-0.007544
Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%, 0.125205,0.129988,0.06675,0.051034,0.030467,0.0195 22,0.004465,0.006692,0.003477,0.002369,-0.00406,0.002248,-0.016204,-0.02202,0.02348,0.01432,0.009388,0.003167,-0.00176,0.004127,0.007362,0.008285,-0.006162,0.016508,0.003712
Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%, 0.124067,0.136081,0.057322,0.046512,0.036007,0.019 801,0.009165,0.013384,-0.001636,0.006378,0.001624,0.005545,-0.011893,-0.011836,0.020358,-0.00305,-0.023078,0.001014,0.001383,-0.001376,0.013851,0.01286,-0.009983,0.010242,0.007544


Distance to: Belgium_Pommerœul_LN:I21570__BC_2961__Cov_14.50%
0.03075949 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150641__BC_3250__Cov_47.37%
0.03484358 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150637__BC_3250__Cov_49.90%
0.03572765 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150613_043__BC_3250__Cov_49. 81%
0.03590736 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150628__BC_3250__Cov_16.75%
0.03680187 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150203__BC_3250__Cov_9.03%
0.03907035 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150629__BC_3250__Cov_51.53%
0.03910369 Germany_Wartberg_MN:Warburg_2__BC_3111__Cov_75.74%
0.03968525 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150619__BC_3250__Cov_51.11%
0.03996878 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150618__BC_3250__Cov_34.31%
0.04021015 Germany_Wartberg_MN:KH150290__BC_3250__Cov_16.91%


Distance to: Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58%
0.02542624 Danish_GSM1985817
0.02581908 Icelandic_NA15762
0.02601747 Denmark_BA_Strøby_Ladeplads:NEO93__BC_1788__Cov_un known
0.02622628 England_BellBeaker:LUT1__BC_1533__Cov_87.74%
0.02623325 Molfish/Creoda_father_scaled
0.02633102 Danish_GSM1985729
0.02692928 Greenland_LateNorse.SG:VK190_noUDG.SG__AD_1116__Co v_98.87%
0.02693858 Ireland_Kilteasheen_AngloSaxon_EMedieval_Norman:KI L016.B_noUDG__AD_1000__Cov_80.00%
0.02748330 Orcadian_HGDP00799
0.02828021 England_MBA:I7579__BC_1399__Cov_66.50%


Distance to: Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%
0.01910847 England_Saxon.SG:SED005.SG__AD_750__Cov_62.42%
0.01998234 England_EastYorkshire_MIA_LIA:I5503__BC_115__Cov_7 3.77%
0.02045310 Orcadian_HGDP00802
0.02078013 England_LBA:I7629__BC_1065__Cov_63.18%
0.02155329 AutisticApe25_scaled
0.02158614 England_Viking.SG:VK258_noUDG.SG__AD_997__Cov_56.3 2%
0.02210967 JamesBond007/Teutorigos/NewAlbion_scaled
0.02233682 England_Saxon_Kent:BUK055__AD_600__Cov_58.42%
0.02254614 Norwegian_NOR106
0.02323442 England_Saxon:OAI012__AD_750__Cov_71.78%


Distance to: Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%
0.01923292 ajc347_mother_scaled
0.02082745 French_Brittany_Rennes_B_78
0.02122059 J_Man/Black_Wolf_mother_scaled
0.02238744 Dutch_GSM1634035
0.02399496 Netherlands_Groningen_Saxon_Medieval:GRO013.A__AD_ 875__Cov_77.15%
0.02440782 Welsh_WalesBK33
0.02515440 English_HG02215
0.02532918 French_Côtes-d'armor_EXPL0054
0.02551878 dsm_scaled
0.02566276 Scottish_Orkney_HG00123

Distance to: CDG_scaled
0.03642567 Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%
0.03738919 Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58%
0.04030112 Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%
0.15785079 Belgium_Pommerœul_LN:I21570__BC_2961__Cov_14.50%

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 2.5503% / 0.02550253
43.2 Belgium_Pommerœul_Roman:I18605__AD_273__Cov_59.58%
37.8 Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21058__AD_273__Cov_59.41%
19.0 Belgium_Tongeren_Roman:I21059__AD_273__Cov_67.49%

[Ajeje Brazorf]

Average for the 3 Roman individuals


Belgium_Roman,0.125964,0.13709667,0.063230333,0.05 3510333,0.034570667,0.018778333,0.0061883333,0.005 3843333,0.00075,0.00164,-0.0013533333,0.00079933333,-0.011347667,-0.013303667,0.021082,-0.00035366667,-0.013168667,0.003083,0.00096366667,0.0017923333,0. 007903,0.0091503333,-0.0052996667,0.011808667,0.0012373333


Distance to: Belgium_Roman
0.01569878 ajc347_mother_scaled
0.01603375 Scottish
0.01608659 Orcadian
0.01764601 Orcadian_HGDP00799
0.01776851 English
0.01846426 Icelandic
0.01868903 Danish_GSM1985733
0.01877730 Irish
0.01893877 J_Man/Black_Wolf_mother_scaled
0.01940891 dsm_scaled
0.01960792 Danish
0.02017837 French_Brittany_Rennes_B_78
0.02019427 Dutch
0.02025787 Norwegian
0.02027672 English_Cornwall
0.02035341 Welsh
0.02035986 iluvspidrs_scaled
0.02044249 English_English2
0.02046605 Scottish_Orkney_HG00096
0.02090732 Molfish/Creoda_scaled
0.02103676 jadegreg_mother_scaled
0.02104899 Caledonian/Albannach_scaled
0.02126283 Scottish_Scottish24
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0.02177835 Nqp15hhu_mother_scaled
0.02191137 Danish_GSM1985817
0.02192165 Dutch_GSM1633996
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0.02245192 English_Cornwall_HG00240
0.02252553 Icelandic_NA15758
0.02255341 Danish_GSM1985821
0.02257699 Jessie/Grace_O'Malley_mother_scaled
0.02266119 English_Cornwall_HG00232
0.02279525 Danish_503
0.02285510 French_Finistère_EXPL0186
0.02285913 ajc347_scaled
0.02286090 French_Finistère_EXPL0140
0.02290046 Scottish_Scottish22
0.02291811 Ais_scaled
0.02293926 Scottish_Orkney_HG00099
0.02297899 MitchellSince1893_scaled