A man buried in France in the Late Neolithic era
The period spanning the Late Neolithic to the Early-Middle Bronze Age in La Clape, a massif in Southern France near the Mediterranean coast, represents a fascinating and transformative era in Western European prehistory. This era, roughly dating from around 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE, highlights significant advancements in societal structure, technology, and cultural practices.
Geography and Environment
La Clape is characterized by its rugged limestone cliffs, hills, and Mediterranean flora. During this period, the climate was likely milder and more humid than it is today, supporting a diverse ecosystem that would have been favorable for early agrarian societies. The region's proximity to the Mediterranean Sea also provided access to marine resources, facilitating a mixed economy of agriculture, fishing, and trade.
Sociopolitical Structure
The transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age is marked by increased social stratification and the formation of more complex societies. In La Clape, as in much of Western Europe, there was likely a shift from egalitarian communities to hierarchical structures. This transition was driven by the accumulation of resources, technological advancements, and increased trade. Evidence suggests the emergence of local chieftains or tribal leaders who wielded influence over smaller settlements.
Economy and Subsistence
The economy of this period in La Clape was diverse. The Late Neolithic era witnessed the intensification of agriculture, with communities growing a variety of crops such as wheat, barley, and legumes. Domestication of animals including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs was prevalent. The Early-Middle Bronze Age saw this agricultural base expand, supported by technological innovations like the plow and advancements in metallurgy.
The region's strategic location facilitated trade and the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies. Flint and stone tools from the Neolithic period were gradually supplanted by bronze artifacts, leading to more efficient farming practices and improved craftsmanship.
Technological and Cultural Innovations
The Late Neolithic to Early-Middle Bronze Age was a time of technological innovation. The introduction and development of metallurgy were pivotal, enabling the production of bronze tools and weapons. This technological leap facilitated not only agricultural and military advancements but also artistic expression.
Pottery from this period exhibits increased sophistication, with intricate designs and diverse forms reflecting both utilitarian and ceremonial uses. The craftsmanship in tool-making, pottery, and jewelry indicates a society with specialized skills and a growing appreciation for aesthetics and symbolism.
Burial Practices and Spiritual Beliefs
Archaeological findings in La Clape reveal diverse burial practices, which provide insights into the spiritual beliefs and social structures of these communities. The period saw a shift from simple pit burials to more complex megalithic structures such as dolmens and cairns, reflecting a greater concern with the afterlife and possibly indicating social hierarchies.
Grave goods found in these burial sites, including pottery, tools, and weapons, suggest beliefs in an afterlife where such items would be needed. These practices underscore a cultural emphasis on ancestor worship and the significance of lineage and heritage in societal organization.
Art and Symbolism
The art of this era, as observed in carvings and decorative motifs, often features abstract and geometric patterns. These symbols may have had religious or cultural significance, possibly related to cosmology or mythological narratives. Paintings and carvings from this period occasionally depict anthropomorphic figures and animals, indicating a connection to the natural world and spiritual beliefs.
Conclusion
The Late Neolithic to Early-Middle Bronze Age in La Clape represents a critical transitional era characterized by technological innovation, social complexity, and cultural development. This period laid the foundation for subsequent historical developments in Europe, influencing the trajectory of societies in the region with its advancements in agriculture, metallurgy, and social organization.
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (ROUQHH) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.
Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (ROUQHH) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.
These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.
The G25 coordinates for the sample ROUQHH are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
ROUQHH,0.12035582,0.16050686,0.03088948,-0.03173628,0.05744006,-0.0166111,-0.00195544,0.00608914,0.03735252,0.06456502,-0.00538834,0.0145541,-0.0257591,-0.01300556,-0.0056575,0.00393992,0.00607346,-0.00063144,-0.0008661,-0.00344024,0.0015442,0.00512862,-0.0121385,-0.0181434,0.00424289
Heterogeneous Hunter-Gatherer and Steppe-Related Ancestries in Late Neolithic and Bell Beaker Genomes from Present-Day France
The transition from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age has witnessed important population and societal changes in western Europe.1 These include massive genomic contributions of pastoralist herders originating from the Pontic-Caspian steppes2,3 into local populations, resulting from complex interactions between collapsing hunter-gatherers and expanding farmers of Anatolian ancestry.4-8 This transition is documented through extensive ancient genomic data from present-day Britain,9,10 Ireland,11,12 Iberia,13 Mediterranean islands,14,15 and Germany.8 It remains, however, largely overlooked in France, where most focus has been on the Middle Neolithic (n = 63),8,9,16 with the exception of one Late Neolithic genome sequenced at 0.05× coverage.16 This leaves the key transitional period covering ∼3,400-2,700 cal. years (calibrated years) BCE genetically unsampled and thus the exact time frame of hunter-gatherer persistence and arrival of steppe migrations unknown. To remediate this, we sequenced 24 ancient human genomes from France spanning ∼3,400-1,600 cal. years BCE. This reveals Late Neolithic populations that are genetically diverse and include individuals with dark skin, hair, and eyes. We detect heterogeneous hunter-gatherer ancestries within Late Neolithic communities, reaching up to ∼63.3% in some individuals, and variable genetic contributions of steppe herders in Bell Beaker populations. We provide an estimate as late as ∼3,800 years BCE for the admixture between Neolithic and Mesolithic populations and as early as ∼2,650 years BCE for the arrival of steppe-related ancestry. The genomic heterogeneity characterized underlines the complex history of human interactions even at the local scale.