Researchers successfully sequenced the first whole genome of an Old Kingdom Egyptian individual dated to 2855–2570 BCE.
The Nuwayrat genome comprises about 78% North African Neolithic ancestry and approximately 22% ancestry from the eastern Fertile Crescent, including Mesopotamia.
This finding provides direct genetic evidence that ancient migration from the eastern Fertile Crescent reached Egypt, not only cultural exchanges.
Later Egyptian populations from the Third Intermediate Period and present-day Egyptians show increased Levantine and sub-Saharan African ancestry compared with the Old Kingdom individual.
The study proves that well-preserved pot burials can yield ancient DNA from early Dynastic Egypt, opening avenues for future research.
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