Iron end of a belt for hanging weapons, inlaid with silver and brass, found in a tomb in Collegno, Italy
Stony Brook, NY—A research team led by Stony Brook University's Krishna R. Veeramah analyzed the genomes of 28 individuals buried between the 6th and 8th centuries AD in a cemetery in Collegno, Italy, according to a statement released by the university. The scientists also looked at the published genomes of 24 other individuals buried in the cemetery. Examination of these individuals' bones provided additional information about their diet, health, and social status. According to Veeramah, the early medieval elite, identified by their richer diet and elaborate grave goods, consisted of families with distinct genetic ancestries, many of which were from northern Europe. But the study shows that over about five generations, the ruling class intermingled with each other and incorporated people from other regions and genetic backgrounds. “In the process of forming new communities in Europe during the medieval period, families with diverse genetic ancestries came together to form ruling groups,” Veeramah explains. The original academic paper on the study can be read in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. To read about the ruins of the medieval town in Calabria, see “Off the Grid: Oppido Mamertina, Italy.”
