Ireland's iconic megalithic tombs may have had an unexpected function
image via New Scientist
May 5, 2025, 8:00 AM
- •Megalithic tombs in Ireland were not just burial grounds but also places for community bonding.
- •Genetic links and evidence of incest suggest the tombs may have held members of a hereditary ruling class.
Recent research suggests that ancient Irish tombs served as places of community bonding rather than solely burial sites for elites. In 2020, studies revealed genetic connections among individuals in these tombs, indicating a possible hereditary ruling class. This challenges previous assumptions about their function. The tombs potentially played a role in bringing ancient societies together for feasts and ancestral remembrance.
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Jessica Smyth
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