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The research investigates the treatment of children in death and the role of collective graves in early Christian contexts.

July 12, 2026Science AdvancesOpen Access

Equal in death: Ancient genomic analysis of children’s early Christian burials

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Randomized trial examines genomic sexing and kinship in early Christian burials, suggesting complex community dynamics.

The research investigates the treatment of children in death and the role of collective graves in early Christian contexts.
Genomic screening of 142 individuals from late Viking Age to Medieval period in Sweden.
Included 68 subadults and 74 adults from various single and multiple burials.
Applied genomic sexing and kinship analyses across three archaeological sites.
Children interred with adults rarely shared close biological ties (low kinship).
Gender roles were established early, with both boys and girls mirroring adult burial patterns.
Community structure was influenced by extended kinship rather than strict family ties.

Krzewińska et al. (2026) studied this question.

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