A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week connects some dots between strontium isotope readings in human teeth belonging to the first farmers of Europe (the Linearbandkeramik or LBK).
Man using an Adze. Courtesy Pearson (Scott Foresman)
The researchers estimated the birth localities of more than 500 men and women buried in several LBK sites between 5200-5500 BC, and then singled out men buried with adzes, considering the presence of finely worked stone adzes in a grave as indicating elite status. Bentley and colleagues suggest their results indicate that high status men tended to live in the same location they were raised as children, compared to non-high status men and all women.
- Read more about Adzes, including a summary of the study
Bentley RA, Bickle P, Fibiger L, Nowell GM, Dale CW, Hedges REM, Hamilton J, Wahl J, Francken M, Grupe G et al. 2012. Community differentiation and kinship among Europe's first farmers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early edition.
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