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New Study Reexamines Theories of Migration and Genetic Influence in Ancient Iberia

A recent investigation conducted by researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the University of Murcia challenges the traditional narrative surrounding the influx of populations with “Steppe” genetic lineage into the Iberian Peninsula approximately 4,200 years ago. This study suggests a more nuanced picture where these groups merged with local populations already facing demographic declines, rather than violently displacing them.

Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, the research team delved into societal changes in southeast Spain during the transition period from the Copper to the Bronze Age. A focal point of their study was the notable shift from communal burial practices characteristic of the Copper Age to the individual and dual tombs seen in El Argar society.

One significant finding from the study was the rapid transition from communal to solitary burials. The analysis of a comprehensive array of radiocarbon (C-14) dates from human remains across various grave types indicated a marked peak in interred dead individuals between 2550-2400 BCE, followed by a sudden decline around 2300-2250 BCE.

The researchers interpret these findings through a demographic lens, positing that southeastern Iberia was experiencing a significant population reduction just before groups with Steppe ancestry arrived around 2200-2000 BC. “The local population was likely quite small at that time,” explains Rafael Micó, a UAB professor and co-director of the Mediterranean Social Archaeoecology Research Group (ASOME-UAB). “When newcomers appeared, they probably integrated with remaining local groups or settled in sparsely populated areas.”

Moreover, the team references existing archaeogenetic studies contradicting the notion of a “male bias” prevalent in Steppe descent groups. “This evidence points to a historical context that does not support the idea of a male-dominated invasion that killed local men and monopolized local women,” adds Cristina Rihuete Herrada, a professor at UAB and co-author of the study.

A Period of Transformation Amid Societal Challenges

The era around 4,200 years ago marked significant social turmoil in Central and Western Europe, with ongoing debates among archaeologists regarding the underlying causes. Potential explanations vary from environmental factors like droughts to theories regarding large-scale migrations or outbreaks of disease.

Recent narratives have proposed that populations with Steppe ancestry migrated west from the Black Sea region, equipped with advanced technologies like the horse and wheel, and caused widespread disruptions in Western Europe. Camila Oliart, a UAB researcher and co-author of the study, highlights the prevalent view that Eastern males allegedly imposed themselves upon local populations, thereby disrupting the existing social order.

However, this latest study posits a more gradual transformation in southeastern Iberia, suggesting that it may not have been a violent upheaval affecting a thriving society but instead the culmination of a long-term decline over the two centuries preceding this transition.

This emerging narrative challenges the idea of a mass extinction of male populations or coercive treatment of local women following a supposed conquest. “The numbers of those living in southern Iberia were dwindling by the end of the Copper Age,” asserts Miguel Valério, also a UAB researcher and study co-author. “They likely merged with Steppe gene carriers without the need for any grand invasion. Our interpretations call for a reevaluation of the prevailing ideologies.”

Nonetheless, the researchers stress the necessity for additional high-precision radiocarbon dating and genetic investigations of human remains from this transitional period. “Such information is essential to comprehend the extent and pace of the societal changes that shaped Bronze Age civilization,” they concluded.

The study analyzed around 450 radiocarbon dates from individuals buried in sites including Almería (such as La Atalaya, Los Millares, and El Argar), Murcia, Granada, Jaén, Seville, and Évora.

More information: Rafael Micó et al, Tracing social disruptions over time using radiocarbon datasets: Copper and Early Bronze Ages in Southeast Iberia, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104692

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phys.org