Posted on 06/22/2020 8:33:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Newgrange is a prehistoric passage tomb in County Meath, Ireland. built during the Neolithic period around 3200 BC and predates monuments such as Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. The site consists of a circular mount with retaining walls and contains stone passages and chambers where human remains have been discovered on previous archaeology excavations by antiquarians from the 18th century.
Normally we inherit two copies of the genome, one from each parent, but the individual buried in the chamber had genomes that were remarkably similar, suggesting that his parents were first-degree relatives and are a key indicator of inbreeding...
Dan Bradley, Professor of Population Genetics at Trinity said: "Here the auspicious location of the male skeletal remains is matched by the unprecedented nature of his ancient genome. The prestige of the burial makes this very likely a socially sanctioned union and speaks of a hierarchy so extreme that the only partners worthy of the elite were family members."
The researchers also determined that the man had distant familial relations from an extended kin-group by studying burials from other sites across Ireland, such as the cemeteries of Carrowmore and Carrowkeel in Co. Sligo.
Interestingly, a local story mentions the myth of a ruler who restarted the daily solar cycle by sleeping with his sister. The Middle Irish place name for the neighbouring Dowth passage tomb, Fertae Chuile, is based on this lore and can be translated as 'Hill of Sin'.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritagedaily.com ...
Newgrange is not the hill of sin. That belongs to nearby Dowth passage tomb.
Newgrange is a beautiful place to visit. Been there twice. In 1985 we pulled over and wandered in the front door alone. In 2015 we had to park in a designated parking lot, wait on a group of 10 to gather, pay a fee, and follow the tour guide. It’s good they are working to protect these awesome places.
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