The Red Lady of El Mirón: 46,000 Years of Genetic Lineage!
Around 19,000 years ago, a prehistoric woman was laid to rest inside El Mirón Cave, a vast rock shelter in northern Spain. When archaeologists Lawrence Straus from the University of New Mexico and David Cuenca Solana discovered her remains in 2010, they found that her bones were coated in red ochre, an iron-rich pigment. This striking feature earned her the nickname "The Red Lady of El Mirón." Since then, her burial has provided incredible insights into Ice Age human populations, and thanks to advances in DNA analysis, we are still uncovering new details about the people who lived in this region before and after her time.
Photo Credit: University of New Mexico
A 46,000-Year-Old Legacy Preserved in DNA
Traditionally, ancient DNA research relies on extracting genetic material from bones or teeth. However, a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications has demonstrated that DNA preserved in soil—known as sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA)—can provide remarkable insights. This research, led by Pere Gelabert and Victoria Oberreiter from Professor Ron Pinhasi’s lab at the University of Vienna, was carried out in collaboration with Straus and Manuel González Morales from the University of Cantabria, who have co-directed the El Mirón excavations for over 25 years.
By analysing sedaDNA, researchers confirmed that humans and animals occupied El Mirón Cave at different times, corresponding to various deep archaeological layers. Astonishingly, they also detected genetic traces of species that had not been previously identified from excavations, such as hyenas, leopards, and Asiatic dholes—wild dogs now only found in parts of Asia. This method is a game-changer, as it allows scientists to reconstruct past ecosystems without requiring well-preserved skeletal remains.
The Genetic Story of the Red Lady
One of the most exciting findings from the study was the discovery of human genetic ancestry within the cave sediments. The research revealed that the people who created Solutrean artefacts in El Mirón Cave during the Last Glacial Maximum (approximately 25,000–21,000 years ago) belonged to the "Fournol" genetic lineage. This lineage had previously been found in remains from France and Spain, suggesting that these Ice Age hunter-gatherers migrated south in response to extreme climatic conditions. Later, they intermingled with other populations, contributing to the genetic heritage of the Red Lady. Her ancestry also included "Villabruna" lineage, which entered the region from the Balkans via northern Italy during the Magdalenian period.
Photo Credit: University of New Mexico
A Window into Ice Age Life
El Mirón Cave has long been recognised as an essential site for studying Upper Palaeolithic human activity. The latest sedaDNA discoveries only reinforce its significance, offering an uninterrupted genetic record that stretches back over 46,000 years. This spans the transition from Neanderthal populations in the Mousterian period to modern humans in the Magdalenian era, providing invaluable information about human evolution and migration.
Beyond human history, the study also retrieved mitochondrial genomes from Ice Age animals, including woolly mammoths, rhinoceroses, and reindeer. This is crucial for understanding how prehistoric wildlife adapted to climate changes, enriching our knowledge of ancient ecosystems.
The Future of Ancient DNA Research
With the remarkable success of sedaDNA analysis at El Mirón, scientists are now looking ahead to an even more ambitious goal—extracting nuclear DNA from sediments. If successful, this could provide even deeper insights into our prehistoric ancestors and how they interacted with their environment.
The Red Lady’s legacy continues to shape our understanding of Ice Age Europe, reminding us that even the smallest traces left behind in the earth can tell an extraordinary story.