An international team of geneticists and archaeologists has uncovered a fascinating insight into the structure of British Iron Age society, revealing an unexpected aspect of social organization—female political and social empowerment. Led by geneticists from Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with archaeologists from Bournemouth University, the study highlights the role of female lineage and the prominent role women played in their communities, shedding new light on prehistoric gender roles and societal dynamics.
The Groundbreaking Study
At the heart of this remarkable discovery is a detailed study of ancient DNA from individuals buried in Dorset, a county located in southern England, which dates back to the period before and after the Roman Conquest of Britain in AD 43. The researchers examined over 50 ancient genomes, providing them with a rare opportunity to sequence the DNA of multiple members of a single community. The results were nothing short of revelatory, as they highlighted a unique pattern of matrilineal descent—a lineage traced through the mother’s side—that structured the social and political life of the community.
The team was able to create an extensive family tree, revealing that most members of this Iron Age community could trace their ancestry back to a single woman who had lived centuries prior. This was contrasted with the absence of paternal lineage within the same burial sites, indicating that the community operated under a matrilocal system. This system, wherein husbands would move to their wives’ communities upon marriage, was a striking indication of the significant role that women played within this society. The research suggested that land and perhaps power were passed down through the female line, and this is the first such instance documented in European prehistory.
Dr. Lara Cassidy, an Assistant Professor in Trinity’s Department of Genetics and the lead author of the study, explained the significance of these findings: “This was the cemetery of a large kin group. We reconstructed a family tree with many different branches and found that most members traced their maternal lineage back to a single woman. This system, which might not have been common in modern societies, suggests that women held considerable power in this Iron Age community.”
Matrilocality: A Rare but Powerful Social Structure
Matrilocality, a system in which people live with or near the wife’s family after marriage, is a rare and highly significant form of social organization. For centuries, anthropologists have mostly observed patriarchal family structures where lineage and property are passed down through the male line. However, the discovery of such a system in ancient Britain contradicts our assumptions about prehistoric social structures and prompts questions about the nature of early European society.
This finding is even more significant as the team expanded its investigation beyond Dorset to other Iron Age sites in Britain. By reviewing previous genetic surveys, the researchers observed a similar matrilineal pattern in other parts of the country. Although sample sizes from other cemeteries were smaller, the trend continued to emerge in Yorkshire, for example, where a dominant matriline had been established before 400 BC.
The team’s findings suggest that such societal structures were not isolated to a single region but were indeed widespread, with roots stretching deep into the cultural history of Iron Age Britain. Dan Bradley, Professor of Population Genetics at Trinity College Dublin and a co-author of the study, noted: “Across Britain, we saw cemeteries where most individuals were maternally descended from a small set of female ancestors. In Yorkshire, for example, one dominant matriline had been established before 400 BC. This was a widespread phenomenon with deep roots on the island.”
Durotriges and Their Burial Customs
The burial customs observed in the Dorset site provided the team with crucial evidence for understanding the social structure of Iron Age Britain. Dorset, which was inhabited by a Celtic tribe known as the Durotriges during the Iron Age, stands out because of its uniquely preserved Iron Age burials. This type of burial site, while rare in Britain, has provided a remarkable opportunity to study the DNA of individuals from this period.
The archaeological site near the village of Winterborne Kingston, which the researchers refer to as “Duropolis,” is a key location in the study. Excavations at this site, led by archaeologists from Bournemouth University since 2009, have uncovered several well-preserved Durotrigan burials. Remarkably, these burials, often richly furnished, have typically been found to belong to women, a pattern that further suggests female-centered societal roles in this region.
Dr. Miles Russell, the director of the excavation and co-author of the study, emphasized how these findings support a broader understanding of Iron Age Britain. He noted that our knowledge of this time period has largely been shaped by ancient Greek and Roman writings. However, these ancient authors were not always considered reliable sources of information. Russell pointed out that when the Romans first encountered the British people, they were struck by the fact that women were often in positions of power. Historical figures like Queen Boudica and Cartimandua, who led armies against the Romans, demonstrated the leadership roles that women had in British society—an observation that has often been viewed with skepticism.
Some scholars have suggested that the Romans exaggerated the role of women in order to portray a society that was “untamed” and outside Roman control. However, the genetic and archaeological evidence unearthed by this international team provides strong support for the notion that women were indeed central to both political and social life in Iron Age Britain. As Dr. Russell added, “Archaeology, and now genetics, implies women were influential in many spheres of Iron Age life. Indeed, it is possible that maternal ancestry was the primary shaper of group identities.”
Rethinking Ancient Kinship and Identity
Dr. Martin Smith, a project anthropologist and bone specialist, suggested that the findings offer a new way to interpret the burial practices and identity of ancient Britons. Rather than simply observing a set of physical remains, researchers can now consider the buried individuals within their familial and societal context—understanding their roles as mothers, fathers, daughters, and husbands within the community. He explained that the evidence points to a complex and deeply ingrained knowledge of ancestry, including multiple marriages between distant branches of the same family. This suggests a sophisticated understanding of kinship, and the avoidance of close inbreeding points to a cultural preference for outbreeding within a family network.
This emphasis on maternal ancestry and complex kinship systems gives a whole new perspective on the archaeological evidence of Iron Age Britons. It suggests that family identity and group membership were deeply influenced by maternal lines, which would have shaped not just social relationships, but political power as well.
Migration Patterns and the Arrival of Celtic Languages
One of the most surprising aspects of this study was the uncovering of migration patterns that had been previously undetected by other genetic surveys. Dr. Cassidy and her colleagues discovered evidence of Iron Age migration into coastal southern England, reinforcing historical accounts and earlier genetic findings that suggested significant cross-channel movement between Britain and the European mainland.
This finding adds new dimensions to debates about the spread of the Celtic language in Britain. Traditionally, migration into Britain during the later Bronze Age had been identified as a critical moment for the introduction of Celtic language. However, this new evidence points toward substantial movement during the Iron Age as well, further complicating the timeline of the Celtic language’s arrival in Britain. As Dr. Cassidy explained, “Narrowing down the arrival time of Celtic will be difficult. Indeed, it is quite possible that Celtic languages were introduced to Britain on more than one occasion.”
Conclusion
This pioneering study represents a major step forward in our understanding of Iron Age society and the role of women within it. By combining genetic data with archaeological findings, the researchers have uncovered a social structure that not only challenged the patriarchal assumptions we have of ancient societies but also sheds light on a potentially powerful matrilineal system in pre-Roman Britain.
In revealing a society where women held significant power over political, social, and economic matters, the study forces us to reconsider long-held assumptions about the past and the role of women in ancient times. The research offers a new perspective on kinship, identity, migration, and societal organization, underscoring the need for more nuanced understandings of ancient cultures that go beyond the limitations of historical texts and conventional wisdom.
Reference: Lara Cassidy, Continental influx and pervasive matrilocality in Iron Age Britain, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08409-6. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08409-6