Genetic studies contribution to the study of Matrilocality in funerary practices on the Canary Islands

Resumen

Through the genetic studies of the human remains of the Punta Azul Cave in the lsland of El Hierro, we have been able to propose a new approach to the funerary practices of the Bimbape and Canarian aboriginal populations. We have studied 61 tibias, on which we were able to perform mitochondrial DNA analysis. AII of them belonged to the same maternal lineage, H I cf. These results allow us to propase an interpretation of the funerary practices that could be related to matrilocal ity. The importance of the maternal lineages in the Canarian aboriginal populations has been proposed from different disciplines.This study supports some of these hypotheses and is one of the first empirical evidence of the link of the indigenous populations through their maternal lineages. These results lead us to a more profound analysis and reflection about the role of the maternal lineages in the social organization of the Bimbapes, about the use of collective spaces as burials, and the connection with their ancestors. lt also allows us to propase a line of research where more studies of this kind in other archaeological sites could help in our understanding of their funerary practices.