Stone age 4,600 year old ‘nuclear-family’ evidence unearthed
November 20, 2008
The earliest evidence for the existence of the nuclear family has been unearthed at a Stone Age burial ground in Germany. A detailed scientific examination analysis of 13 people, buried four grave sites in the Stone Age site near Eulan in Germany dating to the later Stone Age, 4,600 years ago proves existence of nuclear family.
The scientists said in the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences:
“A direct child-parent relationship was detected in one burial, providing the oldest molecular genetic evidence of a nuclear family.”
The ancient family was killed in a massacre.
New Scientist reported:
“Analysis of DNA in the bones and teeth of the remains in one grave found that an adult male and female, and two boys, were the classic nuclear family. All the signs are that these people died violent deaths, one female had an arrowhead embedded in her spine, and the head and forearms of several other adults and children had stone-axe marks.”
Wolfgang Haak, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at Adelaide University, said:
“These were the old and the injured, children and women. Whatever violence happened that day, they were not capable of fighting.”
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