First-degree incest in early Ireland – ancient genomes uncover a dynastic elite in Irish passage tomb societies

Posted on: 17 June 2020

June 2020

Archaeologists and geneticists, led by those from Trinity, have shed new light on the earliest periods of Ireland’s human history.

Among their incredible findings is the discovery that the genome of an adult male buried in the heart of the Newgrange passage tomb points to first-degree incest, implying he was among a ruling social elite akin to the similarly inbred Inca god-kings and Egyptian pharaohs.

Extensive international coverage (over 500 articles) included:

New York Times

New York Post

The Independent

CNN

La Vanguardia

BBC

Die Welt

Science

Irish Times

Smithsonian

RTE News