Bioarchaeological analysis of Late Neolithic inhumations from a dolmen in Switzerland

Abstract

We investigated inhumations from the Neolithic dolmen of Oberbipp in the context of contemporaneous remains from Switzerland in the framework of an interdisciplinary project. Apart from answering archaeological and physical-anthropological questions, the aim was to shed light on their diet, social stratification, migration, kinship, population genetics and phenotype.The analysis of the commingled remains, which date to the Late and Final Neolithic, revealed a MNI of 42 with both sexes and all age classes represented. We analyzed the stable isotopes delta13C, delta15N, delta 34S as well as ancient DNA. Nitrogen isotope ratios were homogenous for males and females within the dolmen but differed significantly from other contemporaneous sites. Therefore, we hypothesize similar diets and thus an equal social status of both sexes. In general, their diet was rich in carbohydrates compared to other sites, which is also reflected by caries intensities. Animal products seem to have been less important than food derived from agriculture, and additionally, all investigated individuals were lactose-intolerant. The results from population genetics show that the Oberbipp individuals possessed ancestry components from two sources: Western Hunter-Gatherers and Neolithic Anatolian Farmers. However, the sulphur isotope ratios, which were compared to regional animal data, suggest some local mobility.