From gendered sacrifice to ancient politics: DNA lifts shroud on early Chinese civilisation

Thousands of years ago, a handful of burgeoning civilisations were forming the earliest cultures of what would evolve into China.Among these peoples were the Shimao, who constructed majestic walls that were mistakenly believed to be part of the China" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="68512" data-entity-type="location">Great Wall of China until jade artefacts were discovered, dating the infrastructure to be much older.The Shimao inhabited Shaanxi, in central China, between 2300–1800 BC, a period so remote that traditional archaeology faces limitations in uncovering the specifics of who they were and where they originated.However, recent technological advancements, such as sophisticated DNA analysis, are enabling modern researchers to paint a more detailed portrait of the first people to settle in China.One such study, recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, made a shocking discovery of clear evidence that the Shimao people routinely practised human sacrifice based on a gendered belief system.It appears that women were sacrificed at different locations, presumably for varying reasons, than their male counterparts. For instance, male sacrifices were concentrated around an eastern gate, while female sacrifices occurred near elite cemeteries.The researchers hypothesised that the men were sacrificed in connection with the wall-building process, while women were part of a tradition of “ancestor veneration” and “women were sacrificed to honour elite nobles or rulers.”A prehistoric stone face carving built directly into the defensive city walls at the Shimao Neolithic Site, c. 2300 BC. Photo: Wikipedia“The lack of kinship between the elite tomb owners and the sacrificed people in the tombs may suggest that graves were centred around social elites and their families, and the sacrifice rite was administered according to social status,” wrote the authors.The discovery of gendered sacrifice indicates a highly organised system, likely tied to a complex society.The study also revealed that the Shimao people were likely descendants of the Yangshao culture, which first emerged around the Yellow River circa 5000 BC.“Ancient DNA studies are interesting because they show us previous population histories. For example, by comparing ancient DNA results at one site with other previous genetic samples, we can figure out if groups were related to each other or migrated into different parts of Asia,” said Michael Rivera, a bioanthropologist and bioarchaeologist at The University of Hong Kong who was not involved in the study.Further Reading“In this case, the Shimao population was found to be related to groups who lived in the same region even earlier. They were not recent migrants or conquerors, but evolved locally and were connected to communities in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia,” Rivera told the SCMP.The researchers agreed, with their studies suggesting significant ethnic and cultural continuity that endured for centuries. There was also some DNA blending with the Taosi Culture in southern Shanxi and the Yumin people from Inner Mongolia. The DNA presence of Yumin genetics was particularly enduring, indicating a long and vibrant co-mingling between the Shimao and Yumin people.Drawing of a freestanding stone column statue excavated from the Shimao Neolithic Site, c. 2300–1800 BC. Photo: WikipediaFurthermore, the Yumin and Taosi represented the only notable instances of DNA co-mingling, suggesting that the Shimao did not interact as closely with other nearby cultures.Finally, the team found evidence that power was passed down through generations, resembling the monarchies of later historical periods. While the power structure appeared patriarchal, women managed to attain the highest seats of power.“The elite tomb samples here had family lineages spanning several generations, so this could be a sign that there was a social system or hierarchy of sorts, with power dynamics baked into their society,” said Rivera.“I think how identities and social hierarchies could possibly have been regulated by elites at the time is really interesting. There is a set of 4,000-year-old politics there that is fascinating to consider.”