Ancient DNA analysis of 142 individuals from the late Viking Age and Middle Ages in Sweden has revealed that adults and children buried together were often not biologically related, challenging the assumption that such burials reflected immediate family ties. The study, conducted by researchers at Stockholm University and published in Science Advances, examined remains from Sigtuna, Västerhus in Jämtland, and Fjälkinge in Skåne, including over 60 children and adolescents. Genetic evidence showed that close biological relatives were uncommon among those buried together, even in cemeteries where family connections were otherwise common. The findings suggest that burial practices were influenced by social, religious, or community factors beyond biological kinship. The research also provided new insights into childhood in early Christian Scandinavia. By analyzing ancient DNA, scientists determined the biological sex of children whose remains could not be reliably identified through skeletal features. Burial patterns indicated that boys and girls were treated similarly to adult men and women, with gender identity recognized from an early age and reflected in burial customs. For example, at Västerhus, men and women were generally buried on different sides of the churchyard, and children followed the same pattern. Among the individuals studied, a woman identified as Lady 56 was genetically linked to her parents, brother, and two daughters, all of whom were buried in different parts of the same cemetery in Jämtland. Lady 56 was buried with a scallop shell, an object associated with pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This suggests she may have completed a pilgrimage across Europe before returning home. She died before the age of 30. The findings highlight how ancient DNA can reveal social organization, burial practices, and individual life histories in medieval communities.