Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty

TLDR

Hereditary leadership is a hallmark of early political complexity in literate societies, but it is unclear whether such succession existed in prehistoric complex societies without writing. The study aims to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon. The authors employ an archaeogenomic approach to detect this matriline. Nine elite-crypt burials share identical mitochondrial genomes, and nuclear DNA reveals mother–daughter and grandmother–grandson links, confirming a multigenerational matriline that persisted for roughly 330 years in Chaco Canyon.

Abstract

Abstract For societies with writing systems, hereditary leadership is documented as one of the hallmarks of early political complexity and governance. In contrast, it is unknown whether hereditary succession played a role in the early formation of prehistoric complex societies that lacked writing. Here we use an archaeogenomic approach to identify an elite matriline that persisted between 800 and 1130 CE in Chaco Canyon, the centre of an expansive prehistoric complex society in the Southwestern United States. We show that nine individuals buried in an elite crypt at Pueblo Bonito, the largest structure in the canyon, have identical mitochondrial genomes. Analyses of nuclear genome data from six samples with the highest DNA preservation demonstrate mother–daughter and grandmother–grandson relationships, evidence for a multigenerational matrilineal descent group. Together, these results demonstrate the persistence of an elite matriline in Chaco for ∼330 years.