Scrutinizing Kinship and Biological Relatedness Through the Lens of Palaeogenomics

Bibliographic Data

ID16687169
AuthorsCarlos Eduardo G Amorim (0000-0002-8827-238X, Arizona State University, corresponding author), Jennifer A Raff (0000-0003-0581-7784, University of Kansas)
Year2026
Volume36
Issue2
Pages165-171
Publication date2026-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCambridge Archaeological Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0959-7743 • E-ISSN: 1474-0540
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0959774326100432
OpenAlexW7153997365
LanguageEN
References cited33

In recent years, palaeogenomics has significantly advanced our understanding of human population history and evolution. Emerging studies now employ ancient genomic data to explore biological relatedness in archaeological contexts, with a growing number of studies on the topic. These investigations probe, for instance, the role of biological kinship in burial organization and mortuary practices, shedding new light on the complexities of ancient and historical human societies. Our review surveys a few examples of these studies, scrutinizing the methods and interpretations of DNA-based kinship research. We discuss the overlap between biological relatedness and other forms of kinship, acknowledging the complexity of human relationships across time and cultures. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, we advocate for integrating theoretical frameworks from sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, and Indigenous studies into palaeogenomics for a more thorough understanding of kinship in past societies. Additionally, we offer guidance throughout for newcomers venturing into using ancient DNA to study relatedness, reviewing key methodological aspects involved in biological relatedness inference and addressing common misconceptions, potential pitfalls, and methodological limitations

Ancient DNA · Indigenous · Kinship · Population · Sociocultural evolution · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Race, Genetics, and Society