Resource type
Date created
2022-08-10
Authors/Contributors
Author (aut): Richards, Michael
Author (aut): Smith, Colin
Author (aut): Nehlich, Olaf
Author (aut): Grimes, Vaughan
Author (aut): Weston, Darlene
Author (aut): Mittnik, Alissa
Author (aut): Krause, Johannes
Author (aut): Dobney, Keith
Author (aut): Tzedakis, Yannis
Author (aut): Martlew, Holley
Abstract
We undertook a large-scale study of Neolithic and Bronze Age human mobility on Crete using biomolecular methods (isotope analysis, DNA), with a particular focus on sites dating to the Late Bronze Age (‘Late Minoan’) period. We measured the strontium and sulphur isotope values of animal remains from archaeological sites around the island of Crete to determine the local baseline values. We then measured the strontium and sulphur values of humans from Late Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. Our results indicate that most of the humans have sulphur and strontium isotope values consistent with being local to Crete, showing no evidence for a wide-scale movement of people from the Greek mainland or other areas away from Crete in these time periods. However, we found four individuals from the late Bronze Age (Late Minoan III) cemetery of Armenoi with sulphur isotope values not typically found in Crete and are instead consistent with an origin elsewhere. This cemetery at Armenoi also has one of only a few examples of the newly adopted Mycenaean Linear B script on Crete found outside of the palace sites, pointing to an influence (trade and possible migration) from the mainland, which may then be the place of origin of these four individuals. DNA (mtDNA) studies of eight Late Bronze Age individuals from Armenoi have results consistent with people living in Aegean region at this time and cannot be used to distinguish between individuals from Crete (‘Minoans’) and the Greek mainland [‘Mycenaeans’]).
Document
Identifier
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272144
Publication details
Publication title
PLoS ONE
Document title
Finding Mycenaeans in Minoan Crete? Isotope and DNA analysis of human mobility in Bronze Age Crete
Date
2022-08-10
Volume
17
Issue
8
First page
e0272144
Publisher DOI
Published article URL
Rights (standard)
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Scholarly level
Funder
Funder (spn): M.R and H.M Institute for Aegean Prehistory (INSTAP)
Funder (spn): European Union Marie Curie Actions