A team of archaeologists and bioarchaeologists led by the Archaeometry research group at the University of Tübingen and the GEA research group at the University of Granada has uncovered a striking demographic anomaly in the megalithic necropolis of Panoría, located in the town of Darro in Granada, Spain. This discovery, published in Scientific Reports, reveals a significant bias in the burial practices of the site: females outnumber males by a ratio of two to one, with this disparity becoming even more pronounced among juvenile individuals, where the ratio is a staggering 10 females for every male. This pattern is both unexpected and puzzling, as human populations typically maintain a near-equal male-to-female sex ratio.
The Panoría necropolis, situated at the easternmost edge of Sierra Harana, contains at least 19 graves, 9 of which were excavated between 2015 and 2019. These collective burials yielded over 55,000 human skeletal remains, and the site’s use spans a period from approximately 5,600 to 4,100 years ago. The necropolis is a significant archaeological site, offering a rare window into ancient burial practices and societal organization during the megalithic period.
In the study, researchers utilized advanced bioarchaeological techniques, including the extraction of DNA and the analysis of a protein called Amelogenin found in tooth enamel, to determine the biological sex of individuals buried in the site. This method provided a precise demographic profile of the population, shedding light on an unexpected pattern of sex bias in the burials. The results revealed that women were buried at much higher rates than men, a trend that was consistent across all age groups and throughout the entire use of the necropolis.
The finding of a strong female bias is remarkable for several reasons. Typically, in human populations, the sex ratio is approximately 1:1. A skewed ratio favoring one sex over the other is usually linked to extraordinary circumstances, such as warfare, migration, or other social upheavals that disrupt normal population dynamics. However, the pronounced female bias at Panoría does not appear to have been caused by such events. The consistent pattern over time, across different graves and social groups, suggests that this was not an incidental anomaly but a deliberate and persistent social practice.
Researchers hypothesize that the over-representation of females in the Panoría necropolis may reflect a societal structure based on matrilineal descent. In matrilineal societies, family lineage and social identity are determined through the maternal line, meaning that individuals’ kinship ties and social belonging are traced through their mothers rather than their fathers. This would explain why females, especially young females, are more likely to be buried in the megalithic tombs, as they would be considered central to the continuity of the family and social group. Additionally, the under-representation of young males could be attributed to male exogamy, a social practice where males leave their birth communities to marry into other kin groups. This would result in fewer young males being buried within their own familial tombs.
This study suggests that the funerary practices at Panoría were deeply influenced by gender roles and social organization, with a clear preference for female-centered burial rituals. The gender bias observed in these ancient graves challenges modern assumptions about prehistoric societies and highlights the potential for significant cultural diversity in ancient social structures. It also underscores the importance of considering gender dynamics when interpreting archaeological sites, as gender may have played a far more significant role in ancient societies than previously recognized.
Overall, the discovery at Panoría provides valuable insights into the social fabric of megalithic societies in ancient Spain. It suggests that gender and kinship played a crucial role in determining burial practices and social identity, with women occupying a central role in the cultural and familial structures of the time. This finding offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of ancient human societies and invites further exploration of how gender shaped social organization in prehistory.
Source: University of Granada