A woman buried in France in the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age era
The Veraza Culture, spanning the transition from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, represents a fascinating period in the prehistory of the La Clape region in France. This era, typically dated from approximately 3000 to 2000 BCE, is characterized by significant sociocultural developments, technological innovations, and environmental adaptations that reflect broader trends across Western Europe during this transformative epoch.
Geographic and Environmental Context
La Clape is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, characterized by its Mediterranean climate, diverse landscapes, and proximity to the coast. The region's rich natural resources, including fertile plains, access to the sea, and a variety of terrestrial biomes, provided a conducive environment for human settlement and development during the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age.
Subsistence and Economy
People of the Veraza Culture practiced a mixed agricultural and pastoral economy. Archaeobotanical evidence suggests the cultivation of cereal crops such as wheat and barley, supplemented by legumes and various fruits and nuts. Livestock, including sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs, played a crucial role in their subsistence strategy, providing meat, milk, and wool.
Material Culture and Technology
The Veraza Culture is distinguished by its advancements in tool-making and pottery. Lithic technology continued to evolve, with stone tools becoming more specialized and efficiently crafted. Flint axes, arrowheads, and sickle blades represent some of the typical implements. The introduction of metallurgy during this period marked a significant technological leap, with the use of copper and early bronze tools indicating heightened technical proficiency and trade connections.
Pottery from this era exhibits increased complexity and refinement. The Veraza people created a variety of ceramic forms, including beakers and storage vessels, often decorated with intricate geometric patterns and impressions. These artifacts suggest both utilitarian and ceremonial uses, reflecting the cultural nuances of the period.
Social Organization and Settlement Patterns
Archaeological evidence indicates a shift towards more permanent and complex settlement structures during this time. Settlements in the La Clape region were typically composed of clustered dwellings, suggesting a move towards more stable, agrarian-based communities. The development of communal structures, such as large circular enclosures and ceremonial spaces, indicates the emergence of a more stratified social organization.
The burial practices observed in the Veraza Culture reveal insights into their social stratification and spiritual beliefs. Megalithic tombs and cairns, often containing grave goods such as pottery, tools, and ornaments, illustrate a complex belief system centered around ancestor worship and an afterlife. The presence of elite burials suggests a growing hierarchy and the existence of social differentiation within communities.
Trade and Exchange Networks
The Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age Veraza Culture was part of a broader network of trade and cultural exchange that spanned Western Europe. Archaeological finds, such as exotic materials like amber and maritime imports, indicate active trade routes and interactions with neighboring regions. This exchange facilitated the dissemination of ideas, technologies, and goods, contributing to the cultural dynamism of the Veraza people.
Conclusion
The Veraza Culture of La Clape during the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age represents a period of significant transformation, characterized by technological innovation, evolving social structures, and enhanced interaction with wider European cultures. These developments laid the foundation for subsequent cultural and historical trajectories in the region, reflecting broader patterns of change during this pivotal era in European prehistory.
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (TORTF) 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 (TORTF) 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 TORTF are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
TORTF,0.12235314,0.14874156,0.05207262,0.01305326,0.05060558,0.00309182,-0.00016774,0.00346586,0.02258068,0.03119792,-0.0088848,0.01220392,-0.02077858,-0.00956528,0.01308756,-0.00371972,-0.01541948,-0.00149058,-0.00071658,-0.00189928,0.00683642,0.0046852,-0.01045766,-0.00493818,0.00049076
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.