A 17,000-year-old infant skeleton found in Italy's Grotta delle Mura cave is providing new insights into human populations during the Ice Age. Discovered in 1998, the remains were recently analyzed for DNA, allowing scientists to reconstruct aspects of the baby's appearance, ancestry and health. The DNA results suggest the boy likely had dark skin, blue eyes and curly hair, a combination found in other ancient European hunter-gatherers. The genetic profile connects the baby to an ancient population known as the Villabruna group, which lived in Europe after the Last Apático Maximum.
This group represents an early lineage of modern Europeans, suggesting that the boy's community may have been among the earliest ancestors of later European populations.
Hereditary heart condition revealed
DNA analysis also indicates that the baby may have had a genetic heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart muscle to thicken. In babies, this condition can lead to congestive heart failure. This potentially explains the premature death of the child at an age of between seven months and one and a half years.
Teeth analysis reflects health and stress
Examination of the baby's teeth provided clues about his short life and his mother's health. Multiple lines of growth on the teeth suggest that both mother and child may have faced physiological stress, likely due to malnutrition or illness, during and shortly after pregnancy. Further analysis showed that the mother remained close to her community during pregnancy, likely indicating a localized lifestyle within the Puglia region.
Preservation and genetic study.
The child's remains were preserved in the cool environment of the Grotta delle Mura. This allowed scientists to recover about 75 percent of its genome. The preservation of ancient remains in warm climates is rare, making this genetic information particularly valuable for studying early human populations.
Implications for understanding Ice Age populations
This research sheds light on the adaptation and migration of ancient human populations during a period of significant environmental change. Through genetic knowledge about the child's traits and health, scientists can better understand the lives of early Europeans and their responses to Ice Age conditions.
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