Ancient DNA in the time of Stonehenge

What can ancient DNA tell us about how people lived in the time of Stonehenge?

From diet to migration, the study of ancient DNA is providing new information about the lives of those in the Stonehenge landscape and beyond. In this event, chaired by Andrew Fitzpatrick, we hear from experts in this field:

Tom Booth will briefly discuss what we have learnt from the analysis of DNA from skeletons found in the Stonehenge landscape; and how they fit into national patterns of genetic change we see at the beginning of the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The patterns of genetic ancestry and relatedness among these burials, including certain groups of close relatives, throw up questions about who was responsible for the various phases of Stonehenge and why they chose to remodel parts of the monument.

Joanna Brück will talk about some of the challenges of reconciling the archaeological and genetic evidence for the period, exploring how genetic ancestry and social identity intersected in complex and variable ways.

This event is part of the public programme accompanying The world of Stonehenge at the British Museum (17 February – 17 July 2022).

Image credit: Bone-bead necklace, part of the finds from Skara Brae, c. 3100–2500 BC Skara Brae, Orkney, Scotland. © The Trustees of the British Museum

[franfromivegill]

I could only catch this later ….. how wonderful to hear such knowledgeable people bringing this to a level a non-expert can understand. It is an intriguing time period… certainly…. And the evidence of migrations from such distances even more so. THANKYOU all involved for making this talk happen. I look forward to visiting the exhibition armed with a little more understanding than before.

[musicloverlondon]

Thank you to BM and all the academics for a fascinating presentation! 👏

[chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I randomly came across this and glad I did. Completely different from what I was taught in the early 1970s in School. Very informative and very, very interesting. Thank you. I have now subscribed.

[TheRoon]

Why is their audio so horrible? I would have liked to listen to this.

[antoninbesse]

Just discovered this in a Stonehenge playlist. Both excellent, clear presentations, thank you. Really interesting to hear the different interpretations and I particularly liked the emphasis on the continuity vs violent takeover perspective.

[FionnghulaThell]

set the playback to 0.75. I still don't understand some words which aren't enunciated well. Speaker is speaking to quickly to fallow along and get a good understanding.

[danhanqvist]

How do we know how old neolithic or other oral tradition might have been? We don't even now what stories anyone told anyone then.

[sislertx]

I want more info on that bracelet ...how did that clasp work..whats it made of...how did they make the beads.

Seriosly...

[jimansbro]

@ 32 min - Lesbians based on African examples is the best guess - really ?

[christineplaton]

Was it an open temple with no roof? I read that the stones now on top were not originally there, and removed from the circle?

[DorchesterMom]

My matrilineal X has been found across multiple Yamnayan digs on the mainland. I trace back on paper only seven or eight generations on paper to Northern England, but I’ve always felt some of the women did indeed migrate westward, especially those who migrated with family groups. Assumptions of mass genocide haven’t aged very well, particularly in light of further emerging evidence of plague and disease wiping out the more isolated and vulnerable WHGs. Plus, the new arrivals had horse culture to give them an edge.

[citytrees]

I can't listen to goatee guy. His constant er, em, uh is over the the period we are, uh, referring, em, to is 5000 B, uh, C'. jaaaysus, B, uh, C. Then Irish girl decides to apply the lens of left wokeism to the bones. These are the same people who slam 19th and early 20th century archaeologists for looking at artifacts through the lens of a patriarchal society. We were all getting better in the 90s and early 2000s - more balanced and objective but things took a turn towards extremism over the past decade and we can't even escape it in archaeological digs.

[ANDY_FUGAZI]

Tried listening, only caught some of its early dialog.

[gwynwilliams]

The Welsh built stone henge there's one on the bottom of my road

[ASAS-dnve]

At present there are not much data how copper age migrants lived centuries with local agriculturalist in Britain and how they got involved into further development of Stonehenge. We have more data from Mycenaean Greece. Their society already spoke Indo-European language and was ruled Indo-European way. They incorporated older stone age culture so had incredible architecture and script learnt in Crete.

[danhanqvist]

A big religious centre could have an economic attraction.

[justjane]

Oh dear. Audio is terrible. Can’t watch.

[serviustullus]

The Stonehenge people looked like this dude on the video - exactly like him.

[christianhansen]

when i listen to Britt accent at double speed sounds like tripping over stones except the for the Irish lass. Dont disturb the dead, al is i can say.

[classicjaglover]

it would err have errr errr been wonderful to errr eeerrrr. terrible sound quality on the tech and errr errr the young man who err errr can't enunciate errr clearly or stop saying err err! and garbling how disappointing!