Tracing social mechanisms and interregional connections in Early Bronze Age Societies in Lower Austria

12.01.2026

New paper published by Anja Furtwängler, Katharina Rebay-Salisbury, Gunnar U. Neumann, Fabian Kanz, Harald Ringbauer, Raffaela Angelina Bianco, Tanja Schmidt, Lena Semerau, Rita Radzevičiūtė, Rodrigo Barquera, Nadin Rohland, Kristin Stewardson, J. Noah Workman, Elizabeth Curtis, Fatma Zalzala, Kim Callan, Lora Iliev, Lijun Qiu, Olivia Cheronet, Anna Wagner, Guillermo Bravo Morante, Michaela Spannagel, Maria Teschler-Nicola, Friederike Novotny, Domnika Verdianu, Ron Pinhasi, David Reich, Johannes Krause, Philipp W. Stockhammer & Alissa Mittnik

In this study, we present the results of archaeogenetic investigations of EarlyBronze Age individuals from Lower Austria, specifically associated with theÚnětice and Unterwölbling cultural groups. Through analysing newly gener-ated genome-wide data of 129 individuals, we explore the social structure andgenetic relationships within and between these communities. Our resultsreveal a predominantly patrilocal society with non-strict female exogamicpractices. Additionally, Identity-by-Descent analysis detects long-distancegenetic connections, emphasizing the complex network of interactions inCentral Europe during this period. Despite shared social dynamics, notablegenetic distinctions emergebetweentheÚnětice and Unterwölbling groups.These insights contribute to our understanding of Bronze Age populationinterconnections and call for a nuancedinterpretation of social dynamics inthis historical context.

 

doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67906-y