Genomic profiling of a six-generation patrilineal family of the Ming-Qing dynasties in China

Abstract

Family cemeteries from historical periods often follow structured burial patterns, but identifying these arrangements is challenging due to limited written records and ambiguities in archaeological interpretation. Archaeogenetics provides a precise means to determine biological kinship, enabling the reconstruction of social relationships and burial customs. Here, we analyzed ancient DNA and contextual data from 34 individuals at Qianweigou, a Ming-Qing dynasty cemetery in Beijing, reconstructing a six-generation patrilineal pedigree. The genomic data revealed strict patrilineal burial customs, with spouses jointly interred and a non-random west-to-east spatial arrangement reflecting generational chronology. Each generation occupied distinct positions, forming an echelon-like burial pattern. This study demonstrates how genetic data can clarify historical kinship organization, refining hypotheses about Ming-Qing burial customs and advancing our understanding of familial structures in late imperial China.