Ancient Mitochondrial Genomes Reveal the Absence of Maternal Kinship in the Burials of Çatalhöyük People and Their Genetic Affinities

A groundbreaking analysis of ancient mitochondrial genomes from Çatalhöyük, one of the world's most significant Neolithic settlements, reveals that individuals buried under neighboring houses were not biologically related on the maternal line. This finding challenges assumptions about kinship-based burial practices in early societies and suggests either a high diversity of maternal lineages within kin groups or intentional selection based on non-genetic criteria. Population genetic studies further indicate that Çatalhöyük's inhabitants shared closer affinities with populations from the Marmara Region than with Levantine groups, supporting theories that Central Anatolia played a pivotal role in the spread of Neolithic lifestyles across the peninsula and beyond. The research utilized advanced sequencing techniques to extract genomic data directly from skeletal remains, providing unprecedented insights into the social structures and genetic landscapes of one of humanity's earliest complex societies.

Chyleński, M., Ehler, E., Somel, M., Yaka, R., Krzewińska, M., Dabert, M., Juras, A., & Marciniak, A. (2019). Ancient Mitochondrial Genomes Reveal the Absence of Maternal Kinship in the Burials of Çatalhöyük People and Their Genetic Affinities. Genes, 10(3), 207. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10030207