Peptide and osteological evidence for sex bias in megalithic tombs of La Lora region, Northern Iberia

Abstract

Burial patterns of ancient communities based on the analysis of human remains are difficult to define. In this regard, the existence of a sex bias in megalithic tombs of western Europe remains unclear. Sex estimation using standard osteological methodologies based on dimorphic features is a complex task in commingled and fragmentary human skeletal assemblages, as those found in megalithic burials usually are. Fortunately, advances in molecular archaeological research have made it possible to accurately estimate karyotypic sex. In this work, karyotypic sex is estimated from 85 individuals of all age groups from the megalithic burials of La Lora region (Burgos, Spain) through amelogenin peptides from dental enamel to compare with and extend osteological sex estimations and to calculate sex ratios in these assemblages. The results suggest an overall over-representation of males, in agreement with previous osteological data, despite inter-site variability. Some diachronic variations in the sex ratio have also been detected, which may nuance the trend. Specifically, an increase in the ratio of males at the end of the 4th millennium cal. BC, which may be linked to diachronic changes related to social organisation. The results also suggest that sex-related selective burial in non-adult groups would be less restrictive, as more juvenile females were identified, which could point towards patterns of adult female exogamy.

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