Biologische Verwandtschaft und soziale Struktur im latènezeitlichen Gräberfeld von Münsingen-Rain

Abstract

Münsingen-Rain near Berne is one of the most thoroughly examined cemeteries dating from the Celtic period in Europe: Both the high-quality accessories of the deceased and the cemetery‘s long period of use
from the La Tène A to the La Tène C2 period (late 5th to early 2nd century B.C.) are unusual. With 230 burials this corresponds to a living population of between one and two dozens people. The question was whether these people were related. As it was not possible to gather DNA samples suitable for genetic kinship analyses, we had to fall back upon morphological methods. Besides epigenetic characteristics, skull deformations  plagiocephaly) which were probably congenital and occurred frequently within the burial community of Münsingen-Rain were also included in the analysis. While the cemetery was probably originally founded by two kinship groups, the analysis results established a continuous genetic filiation from the beginning to the end of its use. Endogamous marriage practices were obviously maintained over many (at least eight) generations; there was also evidence of exogamous relationships (via men). The very small circle of people defined by kinship, the high-quality grave goods, the social exclusion by using a private cemetery and the long genealogical line are potential indications of the genesis of aristocracy,
i. e. the nobilitas recorded in relation to Gaul in written sources from the  2nd century B.C. onwards.