An archaeogenetic study reveals significant information about the medieval community of Las Gobas located in northern Spain. In addition to their isolation and endogamous practices, the researchers have discovered the variola virus, which might provide a fresh perspective on the introduction of smallpox into Iberia.
An archaeogenetic study reveals significant information about the medieval community of Las Gobas located in northern Spain. In addition to their isolation and endogamous practices, the researchers have discovered the variola virus, which might provide a fresh perspective on the introduction of smallpox into Iberia.
Researchers from Sweden and Spain performed an in-depth archaeogenetic examination of a community that resided at the border between the northern Christian kingdoms and Al-Andalus during the early Medieval era. This vibrant phase, particularly within the Iberian Peninsula, was characterized by competition among religions, power struggles, and considerable population movement — all of which significantly influenced the development of modern Europe.
The study, published in the journal Science Advances, concentrated on Las Gobas, a rural location in the Burgos province of northern Spain, close to the village of Laño. This community thrived from the mid-6th century until the 11th century and is remarkable for its church and residences hewn from caves. The site also reveals signs of violence, likely from sword attacks, present on some individuals buried there. Researchers excavated forty-one graves, and thirty-nine of these were subjected to archaeogenetic testing.
The interdisciplinary analysis, spearheaded by Ricardo RodrÃguez Varela from the Centre for Palaeogenetics (CPG)* in Stockholm, combined genetic, archaeological, and historical information to uncover the existence of an endogamous group in northern Iberia that maintained a degree of isolation despite ongoing regional conflicts for centuries.
RodrÃguez Varela noted, “Our results show that this community remained relatively secluded for at least five centuries.” He mentioned that while Las Gobas is situated just north of areas under Islamic control, “we observed comparatively low levels of North African and Middle Eastern ancestry in contrast to other medieval individuals from the Iberian Peninsula, and we did not see a notable rise in these ancestries following the Islamic conquest of Iberia,” he concluded.
Zoé Pochon, also from CPG, pointed out the finding of several lesser-known pathogens in the human remains from Las Gobas. “For instance, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a bacterium responsible for skin diseases through the contamination of open wounds, frequently affects humans via domestic animals, indicating the significance of animal husbandry for this community.”
She further identified the variola virus, the virus responsible for smallpox, within a specimen from one of the more recent burials. This particular strain resembles those discovered in Scandinavia, Germany, and Russia, highlighting the widespread occurrence of smallpox across Europe during the Middle Ages.
Anders Götherström, the study’s senior author also affiliated with CPG, underscored the thoroughness of their research: “It’s remarkable how much information we could gather about this group of people through our archaeogenetic analysis.” He elaborated, “An endogamous group, accustomed to violence, seems to have settled in Las Gobas during the 6th or 7th century. By the 10th century, smallpox appears to have impacted Las Gobas, presumably spreading through Europe instead of via Islamic pathways, which was the previously suggested method of how smallpox entered Iberia.”
This research offers new perspectives on the intricate social, genetic, and health dynamics of a long-secluded community in early Medieval Spain.
* The Centre for Palaeogenetics (CPG) is a collaborative initiative between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. The center’s primary goal is to unite researchers from various fields — including biology, archaeology, and geology — in a top-tier environment focused on ancient DNA analysis.
