Genomic profiling of a six-generation patrilineal family of the Ming-Qing dynasties in China
Summary: Family cemeteries from historical periods often follow structured burial patterns, but identifying these arrangements is challenging due to limited written records and ambiguities in archaeological interpretation. Archaeogenetics provides a precise means to determine biological kinship, ena...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | iScience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225012295 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Summary: Family cemeteries from historical periods often follow structured burial patterns, but identifying these arrangements is challenging due to limited written records and ambiguities in archaeological interpretation. Archaeogenetics provides a precise means to determine biological kinship, enabling the reconstruction of social relationships and burial customs. Here, we analyzed ancient DNA and contextual data from 34 individuals at Qianweigou, a Ming-Qing dynasty cemetery in Beijing, reconstructing a six-generation patrilineal pedigree. The genomic data revealed strict patrilineal burial customs, with spouses jointly interred and a non-random west-to-east spatial arrangement reflecting generational chronology. Each generation occupied distinct positions, forming an echelon-like burial pattern. This study demonstrates how genetic data can clarify historical kinship organization, refining hypotheses about Ming-Qing burial customs and advancing our understanding of familial structures in late imperial China. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2589-0042 |