iGeneTech Supports Nature Research: Ancient DNA reveals a two-clanned matrilinealcommunityin Neolithic China

Was the organizational form of early human societies dominated by patrilineal or matrilineal systems? This question has sparked long-standing debates in academic circles. Previous whole-genome studies, which mostly focused on the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, generally supported patrilineal blood relationships and residential patterns. However, there has always been a lack of strong empirical evidence for the existence and distribution of matrilineal societies.

On June 4, 2025, Peking University and the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology jointly published a major research achievement on China's prehistoric matrilineal society in Nature. Titled Ancient DNA reveals a two-clanned matrilineal community in Neolithic China, the study presents groundbreaking findings.

Through shotgun sequencing and capture enrichment sequencing of ancient DNA from 60 individuals at the FuJia site in Shandong, combined with molecular anthropological and genetic evidence, the research team for the first time discovered direct genetic evidence of matrilineal clan societies in the Neolithic Age. This comprehensive analysis unravels key information about social organization and subsistence patterns in the Neolithic period. These discoveries fill the gap in evidence for ancient matrilineal societies and represent a major breakthrough in the study of early human social organization.

iGeneTech® was honored to provide the probes and capture kits used in the ancient DNA capture for this research.

Figure 1. The FuJia archaeological site and related ancient and modern populations (from Nature)

Source Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09103-x

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