By Tatjana Thelen and al.

Published in 2023.

Abstract :

Interpersonal relationships have always been the foundation of social coexistence. Kinship—whether biological or social—is of particular importance in this context. In archaeology, these intangible connections have rarely been proven conclusively. However, in recent years, archaeogenetics has developed methods and procedures that, with good DNA preservation, allow the degree of genetic proximity between two people who lived in the past to be determined.
The contributions collected here draw their knowledge on the topic of kinship from anthropology, archaeology, genetics, history, and social science. Using current or already known archaeological sites, they illustrate the conclusions enabled by new scientific findings, while also revealing their limitations in interpreting (pre-)historical societies.