DNA and dynasty: tracing history through science. Modern DNA analysis reveals clues to changes in Native American society beginning in the ninth century CE. From the article:

The results are some of the first to use DNA to tackle a fundamental question in the study of human history: Where does status come from?

Hereditary leadership—power and status based on birth—is a hallmark of complex societies. In societies that use writing, evidence for hereditary leadership is easy to come by: In Europe, written histories hold the answers. In the Americas, Aztec and Maya ruling families have been indentified from carved inscriptions.

But without such records it’s difficult to prove that leadership and power in ancient societies without writing was hereditary. “If these results hold up, I think it’s a game changer,” says American Museum of Natural History archaeologist David Thomas, who was not involved in the research.

h/t Postwaves