Genetic analysis of 131 skeletons from the 9,000-year-old Catalhoyuk settlement in Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals a matrilineal society. Researchers from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, publishing in the journal Science, found that individuals buried together under houses were often related through their mothers, indicating that men moved in with their wives' families. This is supported by the discovery of significantly more grave goods with female than male remains.

While the researchers acknowledge that matrilocality doesn't automatically equate to matriarchy, the findings suggest women held a high societal standing. The study also indicates a potential practice of child-swapping within the community, possibly to ensure equitable resource distribution, further highlighting the society's focus on equality. The transition from this egalitarian, female-centered society to the patriarchal structures prevalent in later periods remains a subject of further research. The petrous part of the temporal bone proved a crucial source of DNA for the analysis due to its resilience in harsh environmental conditions.

Impact Statement: This research challenges traditional assumptions about early societal structures and offers valuable insights into the complexities of social organization in prehistoric times.