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The first evidence of twins was discovered in a tomb containing two babies who lived around 30,000 years ago in what is now Austria
- DNA analysis shows that two sets of skeletal remains belonged to a pair of twins
- They date back to about 30,000 years ago and are the oldest evidence of twins
- One lived for six to seven weeks and the other for 13 to 14 weeks after birth
- The twins were found to be male and each was adorned with grave goods
- The younger twin was buried with mammoth ivory offerings around the basin
- The other had remains of a necklace made of shellfish and a fox tooth
The skeletal remains of two newborns who lived around 30,000 years ago are considered the earliest known evidence of identical twins.
The researchers analyzed the ancient DNA of two newborn boys born in Austria, determining that the couple shared an entire genome.
The analysis also reveals that both were at full term, but one lives six to seven months and the other 13 to 14 weeks after giving birth.
The remains were discovered in an oval-shaped pit, with each of the bodies set in red ocher and their heads facing east.
Both bodies were also buried with grave goods: the younger had mammoth ivory beads around the pelvis and the other was adorned with a mollusc necklace.
The skeletal remains of two newborns who lived around 30,000 years ago are considered the earliest known evidence of identical twins ever recorded. The researchers analyzed the ancient DNA of two newborn boys born in Austria, determining that they share an entire genome.
The tomb was discovered at the Gravettian site of Krems-Wachtberg in Austria and was built during the Upper Paleolithic.
Along with the twins, the team also found skeletal remains belonging to a three-month-old baby at the site rumored to be their cousin.
“Confirmed evidence of twins in the archaeological record is extremely rare and has never been verified by a DNA analysis,” reads the study published in Nature.
“With a DNA analysis, we were able to verify them as monozygotic twins, while the third child who was deposited in the second grave turned out to be their third degree relative.”
The remains were discovered in an oval-shaped grave pit, with each of the bodies set in red ocher and their heads facing east. The younger twin’s pelvis was adorned with 53 mammoth beads “ remarkably similar in size and shape ” that were once strung through the thread
To assess the sex and biological relationships of the three individuals, the team sampled each of the skulls and found that they shared the same main Y chromosome and mitochondrial haplogroups – the twins shared their entire genome.
The age of death was determined by the length of the bone and the stages of tooth development.
The twins’ teeth showed deterioration of enamel, but a more accurate age estimate could be obtained by measuring the enamel prism lengths with a CT scan.
The researchers found that one of the males lived for six to seven weeks after birth and the other for 13 to 14 weeks after delivery.
The bodies, however, did not occupy the same amount of space in the grave pit.
While the other twin was adorned with three perforated mollusks and a perforated fox tooth, which the team believes was once a necklace. It is suggested that all objects were funerary items
The older was placed more centrally and the younger was deposited against the southwestern edge of the pit.
The younger twin’s pelvis was adorned with 53 mammoth pearls “remarkably similar in size and shape” that were once strung through the thread.
While the other twin was adorned with three perforated mollusks and a perforated fox tooth, which the team believes was once a necklace.
It is suggested that all items were grave goods, which were seen as supplies for the journey of the dead to the afterlife, which could be offered as a gift to the gods.
The bodies were also set in red ocher and placed side by side in flexed positions facing east and with the skulls facing north.
The tomb was not filled, but instead was covered with a mammoth’s shoulder blade which was shaped to fit the opening.
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