Gendered burial practices in Copper Age non-adults of Iberia: Evidence from peptide-based sex identification at Humanejos (Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This study examines how gender influenced funerary practices for children in Copper Age Iberian societies by analysing the biological sex of 35 non-adult individuals from the Copper Age necropolis of Humanejos. A combination of peptide-based analysis and ancient DNA (aDNA) profiling, osteological examination and the analysis of archaeological indicators, including grave goods, offer further context on social and cultural aspects of the burials. This multi-method approach reveals distinct burial patterns, most notably a marked absence of female individuals among those sexed and evidence that gender roles were ascribed at very early ages, consistent with biological sex determinations. Additionally, the analysis identifies specific funerary practices in which gender significantly influenced treatment, highlighting the symbolic importance of gender identity in burial contexts. These findings contribute new perspectives on social organization and the symbolic roles of children in Copper Age Iberia, offering a deeper understanding of how gender was constructed and represented in mortuary practices. The results enrich the understanding of childhood in prehistoric Iberia and challenge prior assumptions about the uniformity of burial customs across age and gender groups.