Viking remains at medieval burial site in Poland confirmed by DNA testing
Alicja Ptak
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Abstract
Summary of the research findings
Genetic analysis of remains found at a medieval burial site in central Poland has confirmed their Scandinavian origin, marking the first evidence of Viking settlement in that part of Poland. Researchers described the finding as "remarkable" and said it may improve understanding of Viking presence in what is now Poland and their relationship with the first Polish state. The burial site dates to around the first half of the 11th century and is located in Lutomiersk near Łódź. The site was first identified in the 1940s; graves contained artefacts of Scandinavian origin, but skeletal remains were poorly preserved. Advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis allowed researchers to identify individuals of Scandinavian, Slavic, and mixed origin across different parts of the necropolis, indicating varied social roles and a length of residence sufficient to produce burials in both older and newer sections. The DNA testing was carried out as part of an EU-funded project with samples sent to multiple laboratories and compared to genetic material from other burial sites in Poland and abroad. Researchers plan further analyses to clarify how these settlers arrived and their broader significance.
Analysis
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