Classical Behavior
Unveiling the complexity of post-Roman polity formation in Pannonia using ancient DNA
Yijie Tian et al.
Science, 11 June 2026
Abstract:
The transformation of the Roman world [fourth to ninth centuries common era (CE)], culminating in the Western Roman Empire’s fall, marked a fundamental transition in European history. Key questions persist regarding the regionally specific nature of this transformation. We generated a paleogenomic dataset to reconstruct post-Roman organizations in the Little Hungarian Plain at microregional resolution. Genetic and archaeological analyses of two Roman (n = 68) and five post-Roman (n = 246) sites reveal a rise in Northern European ancestry, reflecting large-scale population movements into this region. Moreover, despite post-Roman sites sharing similar genetic profiles, material culture, and burial practices, they show distinct social structures, especially regarding the role played by biological relatedness. These findings highlight local hierarchies and reveal the making of a post-Roman polity.
Livestock morphological variation as evidence for cultural and economic change during the Roman occupation of southeast Europe
Sarah Everett & David Orton
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, June 2026
Abstract:
This study explores cultural and economic change during the Roman occupation of southeast Europe via the analysis of spatiotemporal variation in livestock size. Along with increased specialisation, the Roman period saw livestock morphological change across Europe. This paper presents cattle, sheep/goat and pig metrical data from sites across modern Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, spanning the late Iron Age to the early Byzantine period. Data are analysed from three regions subject to varying levels of Roman control: (1) the Balkan provinces, under long-term occupation; (2) Dacia, a province from 106 to 271/275 CE; and (3) regions to the northwest and northeast that remained beyond the Empire. There is little evidence for any livestock size change during the early Roman occupation in the Balkan provinces, despite major changes in many other aspects of life; the data indicate continued reliance on long-established modes of production. The mid-Roman period sees statistically significant increases in cattle and sheep/goat size, concurrent with the development of a cattle-focused economic system across occupied regions. The occupation of Dacia and the relative stability it brought may have helped facilitate these changes. While the late Roman period sees livestock size decrease in post-Roman Dacia, larger cattle and sheep/goat persist in the Balkan provinces through the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. Their continued presence amid widespread political and economic instability suggests that mid-Roman size increases were achieved predominantly via genetic change, rather than improved feeding, enabling larger animals to persist despite disruption and fluctuating Roman control.
A global map for introgressed structural variation and selection in humans
PingHsun Hsieh et al.
Science, 11 June 2026
Abstract:
Genetic introgression from Neanderthals and Denisovans shaped modern human genomes; however, introgressed structural variants (SVs ≥ 50 base pairs) remain challenging to discover. We integrated high-quality phased assemblies from four new Papua New Guinea (PNG) haploid genomes with 94 published assemblies of diverse ancestry to infer an introgressed SV map. Introgressed SVs are enriched in genes (47%), including critical genomic disorder regions, and are most abundant in PNG genomes. We identified 11 centromeres likely derived from archaic hominins, adding unexplored diversity to centromere genomics. Pangenome genotyping of these 98 assemblies across 1363 samples revealed 16 adaptive SVs, many associated with immune-related genes and expression, in the PNG genomes. We hypothesize that archaic SVs contributed to reproductive success, underscoring introgression as a major force in human adaptive evolution.
Alcoholic drinking practices at Pingliangtai during the Late Neolithic Longshan culture, North China
Lina Li et al.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, June 2026
Abstract:
The third millennium BC marked a major sociopolitical transition in Neolithic North China, characterized by increased social differentiation and intensified interregional interactions. This study presents the microfossil analysis of pottery residues from the late Longshan walled site of Pingliangtai in eastern Henan (ca. 2300–2000 cal. BC). The results show that most vessels were associated with the production, preparation and/or consumption of fermented alcoholic beverages. Starch, phytolith, and fungal evidence indicates the use of diverse plant ingredients -- including millet, wheat, rice, Job’s tears, and various tubers -- and demonstrates the parallel application of malt-based saccharification and qu-based fermentation involving molds such as Monascus, Aspergillus, and Rhizopus/Mucor. The vessel assemblage reflects an integrated sequence of alcohol-related practices, from fermentation to serving and drinking. While fermentation technologies show continuity with earlier Yangshao traditions, the increasing use of specialized vessels facilitated more individualized and performative drinking practices. These changes suggest the selective adoption of external cultural elements within existing traditions. We argue that alcohol-related practices at Pingliangtai played an active role in structuring social interaction. Through repeated acts of feasting -- within which serving and display were integral practices -- alcohol became a key medium for expressing social distinction and negotiating relationships, contributing to the development of social complexity in the Central Plains during the Longshan period.
A Prehispanic Maya molar with occlusal jadeite inlay
Estuardo Mata-Castillo et al.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, June 2026
Abstract:
Intentional therapeutic or palliative dental interventions associated with oral pathologies are documented in prehistoric contexts since the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic Europe, Asia and the Americas; however, although intentional dental modifications were widespread among the ancient Mayas, except for few cases they were aesthetic, limited to anterior teeth, and unrelated to disease treatment.
This study presents a unique Prehispanic Maya permanent mandibular left first molar exhibiting a greenish jadeite incrustation on its occlusal surface. The tooth belongs to the decontextualized osteological collection of the Popol Vuh Museum, Universidad Francisco Marroquín (Guatemala). Macroscopic examination revealed a well-defined cavity at the intersection of the four main cusps, with the inlay firmly retained by a cementing material. To investigate whether the inlay was placed ante- or postmortem, the specimen was analyzed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Imaging revealed an extensive dystrophic calcification of the pulp chamber, indicating a vital biological response at the time of inlay placement within a wide and well-preserved pulpal chamber with clearly defined pulp horns and root canals, consistent with a young adult age. This finding represents the first documented case of an occlusal incrustation in a posterior tooth among the ancient Maya. Whether the procedure was therapeutic, palliative, or motivated by an unusual symbolic practice remains uncertain. Nonetheless, this case expands current interpretations of Maya dental knowledge and highlights the need for further interdisciplinary research into rare and unconventional dental interventions in ancient Mesoamerica.