Ancient humans avoided inbreeding by networking
DNA from 34,000 years ago suggests hunter-gatherers left home to find mates
![Stone Age hunter-gatherers](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/100517_bb_sungir_feat.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
ANCIENT NETWORKERS DNA from four Stone Age people — including the two shown here as they looked when excavated, top, and at the time of death, bottom — suggests that hunter-gatherers have long formed groups with few close relatives. Aside from discouraging inbreeding, that social structure encouraged cooperative ties among groups and rapid cultural advances, scientists say.
Libor Balák, Antropark