Ancient Individual

A man buried in Italy in the Copper Age era

Name: DNAGENICS DNA Analysis Platform
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Author: DNAGENICS

A man buried in Italy during the Chalcolithic Italy

A fragment of the ancient world, preserved across millennia in strands of DNA.

2906 BCE - 2880 BCE

Male

Italy

Explore Their Story Discover Your Shared Roots

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Chapter I

Identity

The biological and cultural markers that define this ancient individual

Sample ID

Date Range

2906 BCE - 2880 BCE

Cultural Period

Chalcolithic Italy

Biological Sex

Male

mtDNA Haplogroup

K1-a4l

Y-DNA Haplogroup

G-F991

Social Role

Farmer (AI estimate, era-typical)

Chapter II

Place

Where this individual was discovered

Country Italy

Locality Grotta Continenza

Coordinates 41.9600, 13.5400

Chapter III

Time

When this individual lived in the broader context of human history

R4 2906 BCE - 2880 BCE

Chapter IV

Story

The narrative of this ancient life

Region & Environment

Italy spans multiple ecological zones, from fertile river valleys and uplands to coasts that supported fishing and maritime contact. During the Chalcolithic, communities exploited productive landscapes for farming and herding, while also drawing on locally available stone and mineral resources.

Historical Context

The Chalcolithic in Italy is characterized by the spread of copper working and the gradual emergence of more complex exchange relationships. This period overlaps with wider European shifts toward metal use, new craft specializations, and changing patterns of long-distance contact, though local trajectories differed across regions.

Populations & Lifeways

Agriculture remained central, with mixed farming and livestock management supporting stable communities. Settlement patterns often included permanent or semi-permanent villages, where households participated in food production and in craft tasks such as pottery making.

Archaeology & Material Culture

The material signature of the Chalcolithic includes copper artifacts (when preserved), distinctive ceramics, and stone tools that reflect both everyday work and specialized production. Settlement remains and grave contexts (where documented) provide evidence for how communities organized labor and marked identity through stylistic choices in pottery and other durable objects.

Culture & Society

Ceramic traditions and craft repertoires suggest that communities maintained shared stylistic conventions while also participating in regional networks. The introduction and use of copper likely changed social dynamics by enabling new forms of display and by encouraging craft specialization and exchange.

Legacy & Transition

The transition from the Chalcolithic to later Early Bronze Age developments involved continued growth in metal use and adjustments in settlement and burial practices. Chalcolithic innovations in craft and exchange helped create the material groundwork for subsequent Bronze Age cultural expressions in different parts of Italy.

Chapter V

Genetics

These comparisons show genetic similarity, not identity or origin. The populations listed are those whose genomes show statistical alignment to this ancient individual.

Similarity reflects shared history, not shared identity. These are analytical comparisons, not claims about who this person was.

Modern Genetic Admixture

This analysis compares the DNA profile with present-day reference populations, showing statistical similarity to modern reference populations from different regions. The excavation site records where this individual was found, not a fixed modern genetic identity.

Europe 84.8%

Southern European 84.8%

Italian 42.1%

Sardinian 25.7%

Iberian 17.0%

Asia 15.2%

Northern West Asian 15.2%

Cypriot 8.6%

Anatolian 6.6%

Closest Modern Populations

These are the modern populations showing the closest statistical alignment to A man buried in Italy in the Copper Age era, ranked by genetic distance. Lower distance values indicate closer statistical similarity. Cross-region similarity can reflect shared ancestry, population movement, continuity, or later admixture.

Sardinian

2.0897

Context

Related Samples

This individual exists within a broader network of ancient samples. No ancient genome stands alone.

Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
R1015	Iron Age Roman Republic	900 BCE	Veio Grotta Gramiccia, Italy	View
R1016	Iron Age Roman Republic	900 BCE	Castel di Decima, Italy	View
R1021	Iron Age Roman Republic	700 BCE	Boville Ernica, Italy	View
R104	Late Antiquity Italy	601 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R105	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R106	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R107	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R108	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R109	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R10	Neolithic Italy	5721 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R110	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Crypta Balbi, Italy	View
R111	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R113	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R114	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R115	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R116	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R117	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	San Ercolano, Italy	View
R118	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	San Ercolano, Italy	View
I26771	Mesolithic Italy	9999 BCE	Abruzzo. Grotta de Continenza, Italy	View
R120	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	San Ercolano, Italy	View
R1219	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1421 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R121	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	San Ercolano, Italy	View
R1220	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1480 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1221	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1480 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1224	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1480 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R122	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	San Ercolano, Italy	View
R123	Imperial Rome	124 CE	Casale del dolce, Italy	View
R125	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Casale del dolce, Italy	View
R126	Imperial Rome	242 CE	Casale del dolce, Italy	View
R1283	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	772 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1285	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	978 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1286	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1409 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1287	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1350 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1288	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1350 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R1289	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1350 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R128	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Casale del dolce, Italy	View
R1290	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1299 CE	Cancelleria, Italy	View
R130	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R131	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Via Paisiello (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R132	Imperial Rome	215 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R133	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R134	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R136	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R137	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Marcellino & Pietro, Italy	View
R1543	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Mazzano Romano, Italy	View
R1544	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Mazzano Romano, Italy	View
R1545	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Mazzano Romano, Italy	View
R1547	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Monterotondo, Italy	View
R1548	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Monterotondo, Italy	View
R1549	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Monterotondo, Italy	View
R1550	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Monterotondo, Italy	View
R1551	Imperial Rome	76 CE	Monterotondo, Italy	View
I26772	Mesolithic Italy	7312 BCE	Abruzzo. Grotta de Continenza, Italy	View
R16	Neolithic Italy	5309 BCE	Ripabianca di Monterado, Italy	View
R17	Neolithic Italy	5323 BCE	Ripabianca di Monterado, Italy	View
R18	Neolithic Italy	5461 BCE	Ripabianca di Monterado, Italy	View
I16762	Neolithic Italy	5356 BCE	Ripabianca di Monterado, Italy	View
R1	Iron Age Roman Republic	963 BCE	Martinsicuro, Italy	View
R22	Chalcolithic to Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy	2015 BCE	Sardinia. Su Crocefissu, Italy	View
R24	Neolithic Sardinia, Italy	3599 BCE	Sardinia. Su Crocefissu, Italy	View
R27	Chalcolithic to Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy	3500 BCE	Sardinia. Su Crocefissu, Italy	View
R29	Chalcolithic to Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy	3500 BCE	Sardinia. Su Crocefissu, Italy	View
R2	Neolithic Italy	6068 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R30	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Mausoleo di Augusto, Italy	View
R31	Late Antiquity Italy	261 CE	Mausoleo di Augusto, Italy	View
R32	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Mausoleo di Augusto, Italy	View
R33	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Mausoleo di Augusto, Italy	View
R34	Late Antiquity Italy	300 CE	Mausoleo di Augusto, Italy	View
R35	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Celio, Italy	View
R36	Late Antiquity Italy	400 CE	Celio, Italy	View
R37	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R38	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R39	Imperial Rome	81 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R3	Neolithic Italy	5831 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R40	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R41	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R42	Imperial Rome	26 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R435	Iron Age Roman Republic	600 BCE	Palestrina Colombella, Italy	View
R436	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Palestrina Antina, Italy	View
R437	Iron Age Roman Republic	400 BCE	Palestrina Selciata, Italy	View
R43	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R44	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R45	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Isola Sacra, Italy	View
R473	Iron Age Roman Republic	700 BCE	Civitavecchia, Italy	View
R474	Iron Age Roman Republic	700 BCE	Civitavecchia, Italy	View
R475	Iron Age Roman Republic	700 BCE	Civitavecchia, Italy	View
R47	Imperial Rome	241 CE	Centocelle, Italy	View
R49	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Centocelle, Italy	View
R4	Chalcolithic Italy	2906 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R50	Imperial Rome	211 CE	Centocelle, Italy	View
R51	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Centocelle, Italy	View
R52	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R53	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R54	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R55	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R56	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R57	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R58	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	700 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R59	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	820 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R5	Chalcolithic Italy	2905 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R60	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	820 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R61	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1280 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R62	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1130 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R63	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	970 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R64	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1070 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R65	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1070 CE	Villa Magna, Italy	View
R66	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R67	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R68	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R69	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R6	Neolithic Italy	5318 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R70	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R71	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R72	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R73	Imperial Rome	100 CE	ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strada), Italy	View
R75	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Viale Rossini (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R76	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Viale Rossini (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R78	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Viale Rossini (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
I26770	Mesolithic Italy	9107 BCE	Abruzzo. Grotta de Continenza, Italy	View
R80	Imperial Rome	27 CE	Viale Rossini (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R81	Imperial Rome	1 CE	Viale Rossini (Necropoli Salaria), Italy	View
R835	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Civitanova Marche, Italy	View
R836	Imperial Rome	27 BCE	Civitanova Marche, Italy	View
R850	Iron Age Roman Republic	800 BCE	Ardea, Italy	View
R851	Iron Age Roman Republic	800 BCE	Ardea, Italy	View
R8	Neolithic Italy	5830 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R969	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1600 CE	Tivoli Palazzo Cianti, Italy	View
R970	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1600 CE	Tivoli Palazzo Cianti, Italy	View
R973	Medieval to Early Modern Italy	1600 CE	Tivoli Palazzo Cianti, Italy	View
R9	Neolithic Italy	5611 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R1014	Chalcolithic Italy	5214 BCE	Monte San Biagio, Italy	View
R11	Epigravettian Culture of Italy	9999 BCE	Grotta Continenza (Abruzzo, L'Aquila), Italy	View
R15	Epigravettian Culture of Italy	7312 BCE	Grotta Continenza (Abruzzo, L'Aquila), Italy	View
R19	Northern Central Italian	5356 BCE	Ripabianca di Monterado (Centro, Marche, Ancona), Italy	View
R25	Early Bronze Age Nuragic Culture, Sardinia, Italy	2204 BCE	Su Crucifissu Mannu (Sardinia, Sassari, Porto Torres), Italy	View
R26	Early Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy	2468 BCE	Su Crucifissu Mannu (Sardinia, Sassari, Porto Torres), Italy	View
R28	Early Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy	2296 BCE	Su Crucifissu Mannu (Sardinia, Sassari, Porto Torres), Italy	View
R7	Epigravettian Culture of Italy	9107 BCE	Grotta Continenza (Abruzzo, L'Aquila), Italy	View
SUC002		2204 BCE	Sardinia. Porto Torres. SAS. Su Crucifissu Mannu. t.16, Italy	View
SUC006		2468 BCE	Porto Torres. SAS. Su Crucifissu Mannu. t.16, Italy	View
SUC004		2296 BCE	Porto Torres. SAS. Su Crucifissu Mannu. t.16, Italy	View
R1014		5214 BCE	Monte San Biagio, Italy	View

Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
R4	Chalcolithic Italy	2906 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R5	Chalcolithic Italy	2905 BCE	Grotta Continenza, Italy	View
R1014	Chalcolithic Italy	5214 BCE	Monte San Biagio, Italy	View

Sources

References

Scientific publications and genetic data that inform this profile.

Scientific Publication

Ancient Rome: A genetic crossroads of Europe and the Mediterranean

Authors Antonio ML, Gao Z, Moots HM, Lucci M, Candilio F et al.

Abstract

Ancient Rome was the capital of an empire of ~70 million inhabitants, but little is known about the genetics of ancient Romans. Here we present 127 genomes from 29 archaeological sites in and around Rome, spanning the past 12,000 years. We observe two major prehistoric ancestry transitions: one with the introduction of farming and another prior to the Iron Age. By the founding of Rome, the genetic composition of the region approximated that of modern Mediterranean populations. During the Imperial period, Rome's population received net immigration from the Near East, followed by an increase in genetic contributions from Europe. These ancestry shifts mirrored the geopolitical affiliations of Rome and were accompanied by marked interindividual diversity, reflecting gene flow from across the Mediterranean, Europe, and North Africa.

View in DNAGENICS View Original Publication

G25 Coordinates

These coordinates represent a position in genetic space, a tool for comparison, not a conclusion. You can use these to perform custom admixture analysis in G25 Studio.

R4,0.11430426,0.16126286,0.02211246,-0.04671554,0.05736,-0.02322888,-0.00308442,0.00567146,0.04085818,0.07192908,-0.00346354,0.01452748,-0.02539376,-0.01479186,-0.01152574,0.00464718,0.01457684,-0.00085628,-0.0016885,-0.00377394,-0.00130126,0.00299484,-0.0112776,-0.01944184,0.00456795

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