Researchers determine the unexpected gender identity of 5000-year-old remains found in a lavish grave in southwestern Spain.
The remains were first discovered in the town of Valencina in 2008.. Also referred to as the Chalcolithic, it began around the mid-fifth millennium BCE was one of the earliest eras primarily understood for male dominance in society.
Definitively determining the sex of ancient remains using DNA can be particularly difficult. In this case, it was further complicated by the intense heat of thousands of southern Spanish summers, which had significantly degraded the remaining genetic material.The scientists employed peptide analysis to genetically test the specimen for the presence of the sexually-dimorphic enamel-forming protein amelogenin in its teeth.
The remains of 15 women were found in a grave next to the primary grave. Therefore, researchers presumed that the other women were descendants of the ‘Ivory Lady’ who may have built the tomb.
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