85 Documenta Praehistorica XL (2013) Lactase persistence and milk consumption in Europe> an interdisciplinary approach involving genetics and archaeology Michela Leonardi AG Palaeogenetik, Institute of Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, D Human Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, UK m.leonardi@ucl.ac.uk Introduction Mammals have the ability to digest lactose – the main sugar contained in milk – only until weaning is over. After that, there is a significant reduction in the production of lactase, the enzyme that allows the absorption of lactose. In humans, however, at least four genetic mutations have been associated with the production of lactase into adulthood (lac- tase persistence). The frequency of lactase persistent individuals varies significantly between and within continents, and in some cases even between neigh- bouring regions. In Europe the distribution of lac- tase persistent individuals follows a cline showing lower frequencies in the south, and higher frequen- cies, reaching as much as 98%, in the north. The study of ancient DNA shows that the lactase per- sistence associated variant was absent or present in very low frequencies in most regions before and du- ring the Neolithic (Burger et al. 2007; Lacan et al. 2011; Malmström et al. 2009; Plantinga et al. 2012). This result suggests that, before the beginning of animal husbandry, the European population was not able to drink milk during adulthood without suffe- ring from very unpleasant and sometimes deleteri- ous symptoms. After the domestication of cattle, sheep and goats, milk became available as a source of nutrition for adults, and the frequency of the lac- tase persistence-associated mutation increased rapid- ly in the population, reaching the present-day rates. The origin and spread of lactase persistence is a very complex process that, to be understood well, must be considered within its archaeological, genetic and so- cial context (Gerbault et al. 2011; Leonardi et al. 2012). ABSTRACT – The ability to digest milk during adulthood (lactase persistence) is a genetically determi- ned trait present only in humans. Its origin and diffusion are correlated with the development of pastoralism and the consumption of fresh milk. This work will present the genetic and archaeologi- cal data that allow the reconstruction of the co-evolutionary process between dairying culture and lactase persistence, as well as a discussion of the chronology and the way lactase persistence spread in Europe. IZVLE∞EK – Sposobnost presnavljanja mleka v odrasli dobi (laktazna persistenca) je genetsko pogoje- na zna≠ilnost, navzo≠a le pri ljudeh. Njen izvor in raz∏iritev sta povezana z razvojem pastirstva in u∫ivanjem sve∫ega mleka. V ≠lanku predstavljamo genetske in arheolo∏ke podatke, ki nam omogo- ≠ajo rekonstrukcijo koevolucijskih procesov med mle≠no-gospodarskimi kulturami in laktazno persi- stenco, poleg tega pa komentiramo kronologijo in na≠in, kako se je laktazna persistenca ∏irila v Evropo. KEY WORDS – lactase persistence; gene-culture coevolution; European Neolithic; genetics; dairying DOI> 10.4312\dp.40.8