Social Relations, Deprivation and Violence at Schleinbach, Lower Austria. Insights from an Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Early Bronze Age Human Remains

The interdisciplinary analysis of the skeletal remains of 63 individuals from settlement features and graves from Schleinbach in Lower Austria brought new insights into Early Bronze Age social relations, health aspects, signs of stress and trauma patterns. The individuals were buried in two groups of formal graves as well as in former storage pits. Mitochondrial DNA analysis identified genetic relationships between two individuals placed close together in a double grave, and between individuals from a multiple burial. The sex of four children buried in contexts suggestive of violence was revealed by proteomic sex identification. The high incidence of peri-mortem fractures in individuals from formal graves and pit burials suggests conflict within the community and neighbouring groups that were competing for scarce resources. The osteological analysis focused on skeletal and dental markers of deprivation, traumas, degenerative conditions and pelvic changes possibly linked to reproduction. In addition, we present data from 14C dating, tooth cementum annulation and δ13C/δ15N isotope analyses for selected individuals. The detailed examination of the archaeological context in conjunction with assessing and interpreting non-specific stress indicators and traumas revealed a rich and complex picture of social differentiation at Early Bronze Age Schleinbach, in which conflict, abuse and marginalization played a decisive role.