DNA helps uncover ancient ordinary families linked through marriage

DNA technology has decoded information about a newly discovered cemetery and the intriguing relationship between two extended families living nearly 3,000 years ago in what is now Beijing.

The cemetery at the Liulihe Site in the capital's Fangshan district is a large-scale tomb area in the presumed capital of the Yan state of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) in what is now Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

Yan was once one of the seven leading states of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) but was conquered by Ying Zheng in 222 BC, the year before he established the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and became China's first emperor, Qinshihuang.