Biology subjects

Schotsmans, E. M. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Schotsmans, E. M. J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Bone diagenesis in Iron Age Siberia: a histological and microtomographic study of Tunnug 1 (Russia, 2nd-4th c. CE)

The Siberian site of Tunnug 1, located in the Uyuk Valley (Tuva Republic, Russia), encompasses an Early Scythian burial mound (9th century BCE) and a peripheral cemetery attributed to the Kokel culture (2nd-4th centuries CE). Situated within a permafrost-affected environment, the site offers an opportunity to investigate bone preservation under long-term freeze-thaw cycle conditions and explore the relationship between funerary treatment and bone diagenesis. This study presents a combined histological and microtomographic analysis of 76 bone samples from 71 individuals across 36 burials. Transmitted light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) were employed to document biological, chemical and physical degradation. Bone preservation was evaluated through three approaches: the traditional Oxford Histological Index (OHI), quantitative image analysis and assessment of (micro)cracking. The results revealed moderate bone preservation (OHI 2-4). Biological degradation in the form of Microscopical Focal Destruction (MFD) and chemical alteration were identified in six individuals. Enlarged canaliculi were observed in every bone sample. Microcracks were present in all individuals, visible exclusively under SEM. No clear diagenetic signatures linked to specific funerary practices were identified, though variations in preservation suggest a possible influence of burial depth. The distinct impact of permafrost and long-term freeze-thaw cycles on bone microstructure could not be isolated, underscoring the multifactorial nature of diagenesis. This study highlights the complementary value of combining multiple analytical methods assessing bone diagenesis and emphasises the need for continued experimental research into the effects of freezing environments on human remains.

paleontology↗

bioRxiv2024

An age-specific burial practice reflected in ancient DNA preservation in Neolithic Catalhöyük

Selective funerary practices can inform about social relationships in prehistoric societies but are often difficult to discern. Here we present evidence for an age-specific practice at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk in Anatolia, dating to the 7th millennium BCE. Among ancient DNA libraries produced from 362 petrous bone samples, those of subadults contained three times higher average human DNA than those of adults. This difference in organic preservation was also confirmed by FTIR analysis. Studying similar datasets from seven prehistoric and historical sites, we found a similar age-related difference in only one cemetery. We propose that the organic preservation difference with age was caused by the special treatment of chosen corpses before interment, such as defleshing or drying, which was more frequently applied to Catalhoyuk adults and promoted organic decay.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Female lineages and changing kinship patterns in Neolithic Catalhöyük

Arguments have long suggested that the advent of early farming in the Near East and Anatolia was linked to a Mother Goddess cult. However, evidence for a dominant female role in these societies has been scarce. We studied social organisation, mobility patterns and gendered practices in Neolithic Southwest Asia using 131 paleogenomes from Catalhoyuk East Mound (7100-5950 BCE), a major settlement in Central Anatolia with an uninterrupted occupation and an apparent egalitarian structure. In contrast to widespread genetic evidence for patrilocality in Neolithic Europe, the Catalhoyuk individuals revealed no indication of patrilocal mobility. Analysing genetic kin ties among individuals buried in the same house (co-burials) across 35 Catalhoyuk buildings, we identified close ties concentrated within buildings and among neighbours in Catalhoyuks Early period, akin to those in the preceding Pre-Pottery Neolithic in Southwest Asia. This pattern weakened over time: by the late 7th millennium BCE, subadults buried in the same building were rarely closely genetically related, despite sharing similar diets. Still, throughout the sites occupation, genetic connections within Catalhoyuk buildings were much more frequently connected via the maternal than the paternal line. We also identified differential funerary treatment of female subadults compared to those of males, with a higher frequency of grave goods associated with females. Our results reveal how kinship practices changed while key female roles persisted over one thousand years in a large Neolithic community in western Eurasia.

genomics↗