DNA study shows matrilineal society in Iron Age Britain

A new genetic analysis of more than 500 Iron Age skeletons from north‑east England has revealed that descent was traced from mother to daughter rather than from father to son. The research, published by scientists at the University of Cambridge, used mitochondrial DNA to map familial relationships across the region. The findings suggest that pre‑Roman Britain may have been organized around women, with matrilineal kinship playing a central role in social structure. This challenges long‑held assumptions about gender roles in ancient societies and provides a new lens for interpreting archaeological evidence from the period.