- Archaeological News
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Image Credit: Gyeongsan City
Ancient DNA Reveals Family Ties and Marriage Practices in Early Korean Society
A new genetic study of ancient human remains from southeastern Korea has shed light on family structures and social customs during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC–AD 668). By analyzing genome-wide DNA from dozens of individuals buried at the Imdang-Joyeong site, researchers have uncovered a complex network of biological relationships spanning multiple generations.
The burial complex, used between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, contains a dense concentration of tombs, including graves where individuals were interred alongside human sacrifices—a practice known from historical records. The new study examined genetic data from 78 individuals, allowing researchers to reconstruct extended family connections across the site.
The results reveal numerous close biological relationships, including first- and second-degree relatives, indicating that members of the community were often buried near their kin. Several large family networks were identified, some extending across different burial areas, suggesting a tightly connected society with enduring familial ties.
One of the most notable findings is evidence of endogamy, or marriage between close relatives. Genetic markers identified individuals whose parents were closely related, supporting historical accounts that such practices existed among certain social groups in early Korean society. Importantly, this pattern was observed not only among elite individuals buried as grave owners but also among those interred as sacrificial victims, indicating that these marriage customs were not limited to a single social class.
The study also challenges assumptions about gender roles in ancient kinship systems. Unlike patterns seen in many ancient European societies—where women often married outside their birth communities—the Korean site shows evidence of both males and females maintaining strong biological ties within the same group. This suggests a more balanced or flexible social structure, without a strong bias toward either male- or female-centered residence patterns.
Additionally, researchers found no clear genetic distinction between individuals identified as grave owners and those believed to have been sacrificed. This indicates that, despite differences in burial treatment, both groups may have belonged to the same broader community or shared ancestry.
Overall, the findings provide rare biological evidence that complements historical and archaeological records, offering new insight into how kinship, marriage, and social organization functioned in one of Korea’s early state societies.
Published on: 09-04-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Science Advances