近日，北京大学教授宁超及其研究团队提出了古代DNA揭示了新石器时代中国的一个双氏族母系社区。2025年6月4日出版的《自然》发表了这项成果。

该课题组研究人员分析了来自中国东部富家考古遗址两个独立墓地的60个人的古代DNA、考古背景和多种稳定同位素数据，这些坟墓的年代在公元前2750年至2500年之间。他们的发现表明，在新石器时代存在一个早期描述的母系社区，其特征是高度的内婚制和沿海附近的一群人从事谷子农业。两个墓地中个人通婚的证据，以及严格按照母系氏族组织的初级和次级墓葬的存在，强调了福家强烈的社会凝聚力和身份认同感。放射性碳年代的贝叶斯模型表明，这两座墓地的主题大约有250年的历史，这意味着一个稳定的母系血统至少跨越了10代。这项研究为人类学和考古学中正在进行的争论做出了贡献，它不仅表明在早期人类历史上存在一个母系社会，而且还揭示了两个围绕两个母系氏族组织的新石器时代墓地，进一步加深了他们对通过亲属制度的人类社会早期进化的理解。

研究人员表示，对墓地古代DNA的研究为早期人类社会提供了宝贵的见解，并强烈表明了父权制。

附：英文原文

Title: Ancient DNA reveals a two-clanned matrilineal community in Neolithic China

Author: Wang, Jincheng, Yan, Shi, Li, Zhenguang, Zan, Jinguo, Zhao, Yichao, Zhao, Jin, Chen, Kui, Wang, Xueye, Ji, Ting, Zhang, Cheng, Yang, Tingyu, Zhang, Tianming, Qiao, Rui, Guo, Meilin, Rao, Zongyue, Zhang, Jiashuo, Wang, Guanbo, Ran, Zhiyu, Duan, Chen, Zhang, Fan, Song, Yin, Wu, Xiaohong, Mace, Ruth, Sun, Bo, Pang, Yuhong, Huang, Yanyi, Zhang, Hai, Ning, Chao

Issue&Volume: 2025-06-04

Abstract: Studies of ancient DNA from cemeteries provide valuable insights into early human societies, and have strongly indicated patrilocality1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Here, we analysed ancient DNA alongside archaeological contexts and multiple stable isotopic data from 60 individuals in 2 separate cemeteries at the Fujia archaeological site in eastern China, dating between 2750 and 2500BCE. Our findings suggest the existence of an early-described matrilineal community in the Neolithic period, characterized by high endogamy and a population practicing millet agriculture near the coast. Evidence of intermarriage between individuals in the two cemeteries and the presence of both primary and secondary burials, organized strictly according to maternal clans, underscore a strong sense of social cohesion and identity at Fujia. Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates indicates that the two cemeteries were used for approximately 250 years, implying a stable matrilineal lineage spanning at least 10 generations. This study contributes to the ongoing debate in anthropology and archaeology11, not only suggesting the existence of a matrilineal society in early human history but also revealing a pair of Neolithic cemeteries organized around two matrilineal clans, furthering our understanding of the early evolution of human societies through kinship systems.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09103-x

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09103-x