1 of 1
Story summary
- A DNA study of 22 individuals from five tombs dating 3800–3200 B.C. reveals that related males were buried together, indicating patrilineal descent.
- Researchers found father–son pairs and brothers interred in the same tomb, including a tomb with father, son, and grandson.
- Two females from Orkney were genetically linked to males in mainland tombs, suggesting women helped maintain kinship.
- Overall, Neolithic Scottish society was organized primarily by male kinship and descent.
