4,600-year-old burials in Germany

Oldest nuclear family 'murdered'

By Julian Siddle  Science Reporter, BBC News The graves contained mainly women and children The oldest genetically identifiable nuclear family met a violent death, according to analysis of remains from 4,600-year-old burials in Germany. Writing in the journal PNAS, researchers say the broken bones of these stone age people show they were killed in a struggle. Comparisons of DNA from one grave confirm it contained a mother, father, and their two children. The son and daughter were buried in the arms of their parents. more