5,000 year-old ancient Egyptian genome reveals links to an ancient civilisation

[Judi Lynn]

The DNA sequencing of a man who lived a staggering 5,000 years ago has revealed the ancient Egyptian man had links to another ancient civilisation and parts of north Africa

Joshua Whorms
15:10, 03 Jul 2025

Scientists have made a shocking discovery after sampling the oldest and most complete genome from ancient Egyptian. The ancient Egyptian man’s DNA has revealed a link to an ancient civilization. The DNA that was sequenced belonged to a man who lived over lived 5,000 years ago. The man lived during Egypt’s old kingdom living in the third millennium BC.

Unlike most other ancient Egyptians, the body was uniquely well preserved compared to others having often degrading due to the high temperatures of the region. Before this DNA sequencing only three ancient Egyptian genomes had been sequenced.

The bloke's body was discovered in a tomb in Nuwayrat, upper Egypt in 1902 and was found buried in a ceramic pot. DNA extracts were taken from the roots of the ancient Egyptian man’s tooth so his DNA could be sequenced. Researchers then went on to compare his genome against a library of thousands of known DNA samples.

The researchers concluded 80% of the man’s genetic material came from ancient people in North Africa while 20% traced back to people in West Asia and the Mesopotamia region.

“Piecing together all the clues from this individual’s DNA, bones and teeth have allowed us to build a comprehensive picture,” said lead study author Dr. Adeline Morez Jacobs, visiting research fellow at England’s Liverpool John Moores University, in a statement. “We hope that future DNA samples from ancient Egypt can expand on when precisely this movement from West Asia started.

More:
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/5000-year-old-ancient-egyptian-35495299

[70sEraVet]

1. So, I gather that it would be deemed acceptable for this 'bloke'.....

to choose the box "Black or African-American' on his admission form to Columbia University.

[dhol82]

2. I would have said an admixture from Turkey or Persia

West Asia is not africa.