The exploration of medieval genetic heritage has taken a significant leap through an interdisciplinary collaboration involving the ATLAS Research Group at the University of Seville, the universities of Huddersfield and London’s Francis Crick Institute, alongside Harvard University. This groundbreaking study delves deeply into the genetic ancestry of two adult males interred in the atrium of the Menga dolmen, a monumental Neolithic structure located in Antequera, Malaga, dating to the Andalusian period between the 8th and 11th centuries AD. The intricate archaeogenomic investigation draws on previous anthropological and radiocarbon analyses performed by the ATLAS group, uncovering invaluable insights into burial practices and genetic lineage within this calcified cultural context.
The two individuals analyzed were discovered in a highly formalized burial arrangement, with their heads oriented towards the interior of the dolmen structure. This precise alignment with the central axis of the dolmen’s atrium highlights the ceremonial significance of their inhumation site. Utilizing advanced radiocarbon dating methods, the mortal remains were securely attributed to the early medieval period, subsequently supported by the stratigraphic evidence documented in prior archaeological assessments.
The DNA recovered from these ancient remains, although extremely scant and degraded, was subjected to stringent retrieval and enrichment protocols. DNA degradation, a common challenge in ancient biological samples, was mitigated through the employment of targeted Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) enrichment techniques, which allow for the isolation of diagnostic genetic variants from minute and fragmented genetic material. This innovative approach yielded a high-resolution genetic profile for one individual, broadening the scope of genomic data attainable from Mediterranean Iberian historical contexts.
Genetically, the sequenced individual exhibits a fascinating admixture profile. Through the analysis of uniparental markers—including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromosome haplogroups—the individual aligns predominantly with typical European lineages. However, the mtDNA haplogroup shares specific mutations paralleling those found in contemporary North African populations, particularly the Mozabite community from Algeria. Further autosomal analyses reveal a composite ancestry, integrating North African and Levantine components, consistent with historical patterns of gene flow and demographic movement across the Mediterranean basin during the early medieval period.
The Mozabites, an ethnolinguistic Berber group indigenous to the M’zab Valley, provide a striking comparison point for the genetic findings due to their unique preservation of regional North African genetic signatures. This connection underscores the fluid cultural and genetic landscapes characterizing Andalusia during the era, shaped by the interplay between diverse populations through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange. The robust linkage of the medieval individual to Mozabite genetic markers signals enduring, complex human migratory and interaction dynamics that transcended conventional geopolitical boundaries.
Contextualizing these results archaeologically, the researchers propose that the use of the Menga dolmen during this medieval timeframe extended beyond its Neolithic funerary origins. The data support the hypothesis that the dolmen served as a marabout—an Islamic hermitage or shrine—reflecting adaptive reuse of prehistoric monuments within medieval Andalusian society. This reinterpretation aligns with documented Iberian trends where ancient megalithic structures were repurposed as sanctified spaces during later historical epochs, blending spiritual traditions and material culture.
The Menga dolmen itself, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as an enduring testament to Neolithic architectural ingenuity. Constructed between 3800 and 3600 BC, its continuous use and veneration underscore the monument’s centrality to successive cultural paradigms. The possibility of uninterrupted sacred or funerary functions from Neolithic inception through medieval occupation attests to the dolmen’s remarkable socio-religious resilience and transformative significance within the human landscape of southern Iberia.
Radiocarbon data are critically integral to establishing the chronological framework, enabling precise temporal placement of the medieval interments amidst the broader stratigraphic sequences of the dolmen. These dates clarify that the reburial occurred during the culturally dynamic Andalusian period, a time marked by intense socio-political and religious flux within the Iberian Peninsula—an era dominated by Islamic governance and substantial demographic movement.
The application of archaeogenomic methodologies on degraded ancient samples from Mediterranean contexts represents an innovative frontier in anthropological science. The challenges of DNA preservation due to environmental factors such as temperature, soil acidity, and microbial activity necessitate advanced molecular techniques like SNP enrichment to maximize data recovery. Successful genomic reconstruction from this study exemplifies methodological breakthroughs, providing refined glimpses into genetic landscapes obscured by time and decay.
Moreover, the interdisciplinary integration of genomics, archaeology, and historical data herein advances understanding of medieval Iberian population dynamics. The synergistic approach facilitates nuanced interpretations of sociocultural identity, mobility patterns, and interaction networks during a period of marked ethnic and religious plurality. The genomic evidence enriches the archaeological narrative, revealing the embodied complexities of Andalusian society beyond material remains.
This study not only contributes to the genetic genealogy of historic Mediterranean populations but also inspires broader inquiries into monumentality, memory, and identity in human prehistory and history. By illuminating genetic mixes aligned with archaeological and historical contexts, it challenges simplified notions of population continuity or replacement, showcasing instead intricate tapestries woven from multiple ancestral threads through millennia.
In sum, this archaeogenomic research at the Menga dolmen underscores the dynamic and layered nature of Iberian history, where the vestiges of prehistoric monumental architecture become palimpsests for medieval cultural expressions. The genetic resonance detected between a medieval individual and North African Berber groups exemplifies the entangled demographic processes shaping the Mediterranean world, bridging ancient origins and medieval realities in the enduring saga of human ancestry.
Subject of Research: Genetic and historical analysis of early medieval human remains from the Menga dolmen, focusing on archaeogenomic profiling and contextual archaeological interpretation.
Article Title: Genetic and historical perspectives on the early medieval inhumations from the Menga dolmen, Antequera (Spain)
News Publication Date: 24-Dec-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105559
Image Credits: Verónica Navarrete and Luis Efrén Fernández
Keywords: Archaeology, Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Evolution, Archaeogenomics, Medieval Iberia, Menga dolmen, DNA degradation, SNP enrichment, Neolithic monuments, Andalusian period, North African ancestry
