Stone tombs built by early farming groups in northern Scotland were used to bury closely related individuals, with new evidence pointing to family ties passed down through the male line.
The research was led by Vicki Cummings, working with Chris Fowler. The team examined human remains from chambered tombs in Caithness and the Orkney Islands, dating to roughly 3800–3200 BC.
Built from large stone slabs and reused across generations, these tombs often hold the remains of many individuals. Until now, it has been difficult to determine whether they were related, as the bones are often fragmentary and intermixed.
Researchers addressed this by analysing ancient DNA. The results show a clear pattern: many of the men buried in the same tombs, or in nearby ones, were closely related through their fathers. This repeated across several sites.
The findings indicate that burial was not random. Specific tombs were used by related groups over generations. Male ancestry appears to have played a central role in deciding who was placed where.
The positioning of the tombs adds to this picture. Burial sites were often grouped together, and neighbouring tombs sometimes held individuals who were also related. Over time, this created clusters tied to family lines.
There were also links beyond single locations. In one case, individuals buried in Orkney shared ancestry with people from mainland Scotland, suggesting movement between regions. Even so, the continued use of particular tombs points to stable family connections.
Local differences existed. Some tombs appear to have been used by small groups, while others show slightly different burial arrangements. Still, the overall pattern—placing related individuals together—remains consistent.
These burial sites likely served more than one purpose. Alongside the practical act of interment, they marked relationships in a visible way. Stone structures that remained in place for generations would have made those connections part of the landscape.
The emphasis on male lineage appears across both Caithness and Orkney, suggesting a shared approach rather than an isolated custom.
By combining genetic analysis with archaeological data, researchers were able to identify relationships that are not visible from the remains alone. The results offer a clearer view of how early farming communities in northern Scotland organised themselves and maintained ties across generations.
Header Image Credit : Vicki Cummings
Source : Antiquity – https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10291
