Unearthing Equality: How Early Farmers in Central Europe Lived Without Hierarchy
New genetic insights reveal a surprisingly egalitarian society among the Linear Pottery Culture, tracing the lives and movements of Europe’s first agriculturalists.
Agricultural Beginnings in Central Europe
Around 8,000 years ago, the advent of farming transformed the landscape of Central Europe. Early Neolithic farmers, known for their distinct Linear Pottery Culture (Linearbandkeramik, or LBK), expanded rapidly across the region. However, the social dynamics of these communities have long been a subject of intrigue for archaeologists. A groundbreaking study, published in Nature Human Behaviour1, offers unprecedented genetic evidence that these communities lived without clear social stratification.
This research, led by Pere Gelabert and Ron Pinhasi of the University of Vienna alongside David Reich of Harvard University, provides the most comprehensive genetic data from Early Neolithic Central Europe to date. Spanning over 250 individuals, the study integrates genetics with archaeological and dietary evidence, shedding new light on the egalitarian nature of LBK societies.
A Unified Culture Across Vast Distances
The expansion of agriculture in Central Europe began in the 6th millennium BCE, as farming communities from the Balkans moved along the Danube valley into present-day France, Hungary, and Ukraine. Despite spanning thousands of kilometers, the cultural footprint of these farmers—marked by pottery styles, burial customs, and settlement patterns—was strikingly uniform.
However, prior studies lacked the genetic breadth needed to determine whether these communities were socially stratified or if their homogeneity extended to their social organization. By analyzing genetic links alongside burial goods and dietary evidence, researchers found that families within LBK sites, such as Nitra in Slovakia and Polgár-Ferenci-hát in Hungary, exhibited no significant differences in food access, burial practices, or mobility.
"This suggests that the people living in these Neolithic sites were not stratified on the basis of family or biological sex," explains Ron Pinhasi.
Evidence of Long-Distance Connections
One of the most striking findings of the study was the identification of distant relatives across the LBK cultural sphere. Genetic analysis revealed familial connections between individuals as far apart as Slovakia and western Germany—an 800-kilometer distance. This discovery underscores the incredible mobility of these early farmers.
"We have successfully found distant relatives in Slovakia and others in Western Germany," notes lead author Pere Gelabert.
These findings highlight the dynamic movement of individuals within LBK networks, suggesting that migrations were not only driven by economic opportunities but also by kinship ties.
The Violent Collapse of the LBK Culture
By 5000 BCE, the Linear Pottery Culture began to decline, marked by episodes of violence and social upheaval. Evidence from sites like Asparn-Schletz in Austria and Herxheim in Germany reveals the brutal reality of this period. Mass graves containing violently killed individuals paint a stark contrast to the egalitarian beginnings of these communities.
At Asparn-Schletz, over 100 individuals were unearthed in a ditch system, many showing signs of multiple fractures. Genetic analysis revealed that fewer than 10 individuals in the grave were related, suggesting that the massacre did not target a single population.
"Our meticulous genetic study challenges the hypothesis that the massacre represented a single population," explains Gelabert.
The absence of young women among the victims, combined with the presence of numerous children, raises questions about the social and economic dynamics during this period of crisis.
Insights Into an Egalitarian Past
The study provides compelling evidence that early Central European farming communities lived with a remarkable level of equality, a stark contrast to the hierarchical structures that would later emerge in human societies.
Through a combination of genetic, archaeological, and dietary analyses, researchers have reconstructed a society where individuals—regardless of family or gender—had equal access to resources and opportunities. This glimpse into the past underscores the diverse social structures humans have experimented with throughout history.
Related Studies
These studies collectively offer a comprehensive view of the genetic, social, and cultural transitions during the Neolithic period in Europe.
The Genomic Origins of the World's First Farmers
Examines the genetic basis of farming populations in Europe and Anatolia, revealing multiple phases of population bottlenecks and genetic drift.
Source: Cell, 2022.Ancient DNA from the First European Farmers
Investigates DNA from Neolithic sites, highlighting genetic continuity and the spread of agricultural practices from the Near East to central Europe.
Source: Science, 2005.Tracing the Genetic Origins of Early European Farmers
Explores genetic diversity among early farming communities, with a focus on the transition between hunter-gatherers and agricultural societies.
Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2015.Origins and Genetic Legacy of Neolithic Farmers
Discusses the genetic legacy of early Neolithic farmers and their relationships with Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Europe.
Source: Science, 2012.The Genetic Structure of the World's First Farmers
Explores the origins and genetic makeup of farming populations, identifying their contributions to modern populations.
Source: BioRxiv, 2016.Social Structures and Genetic Diversity in the LBK Culture
Investigates mobility patterns and their influence on genetic variation in Linearbandkeramik (LBK) societies, emphasizing family-based structures.
Source: BioRxiv, 2023.Ancient DNA Reveals Key Stages in Central European Genetic Diversity
Highlights transitions in mitochondrial DNA, showing key demographic shifts during the Neolithic in central Europe.
Source: Nature, 2017.The First Farmers of Central Europe: Lifeways and Diversity
Provides insights into the social organization, agricultural practices, and genetic diversity of early European farmers.
Source: Torrossa, 2013.The Mixed Genetic Origin of the First Farmers of Europe
Analyzes genetic data to uncover the diverse ancestral contributions to early European farming populations.
Source: BioRxiv, 2020.The Evolutionary Perspective on the First Farmers
Explores the evolutionary processes and environmental factors shaping the first farming societies in Europe.
Source: The First Farmers of Europe: An Evolutionary Perspective, 2018.
Gelabert, P., Bickle, P., Hofmann, D., Teschler-Nicola, M., Anders, A., Huang, X., Hämmerle, M., Olalde, I., Fournier, R., Ringbauer, H., Akbari, A., Cheronet, O., Lazaridis, I., Broomandkhoshbacht, N., Fernandes, D. M., Buttinger, K., Callan, K., Candilio, F., Bravo Morante, G., … Reich, D. (2024). Social and genetic diversity in first farmers of central Europe. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02034-z