Ancient Irish ‘God-King’ Revealed as Myth in New Study

### quick Summary
– A man buried in Ireland’s Newgrange tomb 5,000 years ago was found to be the product of incest between first-degree relatives (likely siblings).- Previous claims labeling this individual as a “god-king” tied to royal hierarchies have been challenged by new research.
– Jessica Smyth, associate professor at University College Dublin, along with colleagues, argues that there is no evidence of kings or elite dynasties in Neolithic Ireland (4000-2500 B.C.).- Newgrange tombs were likely community-wide burial sites rather than restricted to elites. Selection criteria for burial are still unclear.
– NG10’s bones were fragmentary and disarticulated; their exact placement in the tomb and importance remain uncertain due to historical disturbances over centuries.
– The study calls attention to the uniqueness of this case of incest in britain and Ireland during the Neolithic period while cautioning against overinterpreting its implications.

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### Indian Opinion Analysis
This research highlights an intriguing viewpoint on ancient societal structures while dispelling assumptions related to dynastic rule during the Neolithic era. The findings emphasize that social inequality may have been minimal in Stone Age Ireland compared to later eras, underscoring how burial practices could reflect collective rituals rather than hierarchical exclusivity. For India, this study offers valuable insights into interpreting archaeological records without projecting theories from unrelated periods or cultures.

Such challenges against previous interpretations encourage critical evaluation and neutrality within history-principles valuable for examining India’s own complex heritage of burial sites like megalithic monuments across southern states. India’s historians can benefit by applying similarly data-driven reassessments when investigating past societal norms or rituals linked with its ancient communities.

[Read More](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/god-king-born-from-incest-in-ancient-ireland-wasnt-a-god-or-a-king-new-study-finds)