Prehistoric humans are likely to have formed mating networks to avoid inbreeding

(Faculty of Science - University of Copenhagen) The study, reported in the journal Science, examined genetic information from the remains of anatomically modern humans who lived during the Upper Palaeolithic, a period when modern humans from Africa first colonised western Eurasia. The results suggest that people deliberately sought partners beyond their immediate family, and that they were probably connected to a wider network of groups from within which mates were chosen, in order to avoid becoming inbred.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2fNBwbO