In the 1960s. archaeologists have discovered ancient burials with artificially deformed skulls on the banks of the Danube in southern Germany. Scientists have previously assumed that they belonged to people who migrated to Bavaria. Now researchers have received stronger evidence for this theory thanks to DNA analysis.
Experts estimate the age of the burials at 2.5 thousand years. Scientists have compared the DNA of samples taken from the remains with the DNA of modern inhabitants of Europe and Asia. The DNA of 10 men and 13 women with normal-shaped skulls was most consistent with people living in central and northern Europe. Most of them had blonde hair and blue eyes.
However, the DNA of 13 women with elongated skulls resembled the DNA of women living in what is now Bulgaria and Romania. They had dark hair and brown eyes.
The skulls of these women have been deformed since birth. According to the researchers, the fact that only the remains of women with deformed skulls were found in the graves is not accidental. Experts believe that these were brides who were given in marriage in order to strengthen the alliance between the tribes. Whether the tribes living in Bavaria sent their brides to the east is unknown.