Was descent in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe patrilineal or bilateral?

Abstract

Many studies have attempted to gain insights into the kinship systems of past human populations using ancient DNA data. Several studies focusing on Neolithic and Bronze Age European sites reported a high male relatedness and a low Y chromosome diversity, and concluded that descent in these past societies was patrilineal and residence was patrilocal. Here, we used simulations to assess male and female relatedness as well as the uniparental genetic diversity expected under different types of descent and residence systems. We confirm that ancient DNA data from most of these sites are compatible with patrilocal residence; however, the claim that many Neolithic and Bronze Age European populations had patrilineal descent is not supported.