Scientists found that hereditary inequality began over 7,000 years ago by looking at human skeletons buried during the early Neolithic era, Science Daily and BBC reported Monday.

The study, conducted by archaeologists from universities of Bristol, Oxford and Cardiff found that ancient people that were buried with tools had better access to preferred farmlands than those without. Researchers used strontium isotope analysis that lets them know the skeletons’ place of origin.

Since the people with tools were considered the wealthy of the time, this indicates that unfair distribution of wealth existed even back then.

“It seems the Neolithic era introduced heritable property (land and livestock) into Europe and that wealth inequality got underway when this happened. After that, of course, there was no looking back,” said Professor Alex Bentley from the University of Bristol.

Researchers also found that Neolithic women were often buried in an area far away from where they originated, thus suggesting patrilocality, a system where females move to live with males’ family.



From news reports