Ancient DNA shows genetic link between Egypt and Mesopotamia

DeaconSci/Tech2025-07-033018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ancient DNA has revealed a genetic link between the cultures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Researchers sequenced whole genomes from the teeth of a remarkably well-preserved skeleton found in a sealed funeral pot in an Egyptian tomb site dating to between 4,495 and 4,880 years ago.

Four-fifths of the genome showed links to North Africa and the region around Egypt. But a fifth of the genome showed links to the area in the Middle East between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, known as the Fertile Crescent, where Mesopotamian civilization flourished.

“The finding is highly significant" because it “is the first direct evidence of what has been hinted at” in prior work,” said Daniel Antoine, curator of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum.

Earlier archeological evidence has shown trade links between Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as similarities in pottery-making techniques and pictorial writing systems. While resemblances in dental structures suggested possible ancestral links, the new study clarifies the genetic ties.

The Nile River is “likely to have acted as an ancient superhighway, facilitating the movement of not only cultures and ideas, but people,” said Antoine, who was not involved in the study.

The skeleton was found in an Egyptian tomb complex at the archaeological site of Nuwayrat, inside a chamber carved out from a rocky hillside. An analysis of wear and tear on the skeleton — and the presence of arthritis in specific joints — indicates the man was likely in his 60s and may have worked as a potter, said co-author and bioarchaeologist Joel Irish of Liverpool John Moores University.

The man lived just before or near the start of ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified as one state, leading to a period of relative political stability and cultural innovation — including the construction of the Giza pyramids.

“This is the time that centralized power allowed the formation of ancient Egypt as we know it,” said co-author Linus Girdland-Flink, a paleogeneticist at the University of Aberdeen.

At approximately the same time, Sumerian city-states took root in Mesopotamia and cuneiform emerged as a writing system.

Researchers said analysis of other ancient DNA samples is needed to obtain a clearer picture of the extent and timing of movements between the two cultural centers.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Post a message
Casimir

The study of ancient DNA presents compelling evidence that links the genetic heritage between Egypt and Mesopotamia, emphasizing a shared ancestral link in their respective civilizations.

2025-07-03 17:12:56 reply
Cadogan

The discovery of ancient DNA indicating a genetic connection between Egypt and Mesopotamia reveals the early cultural exchanges that likely facilitated modern human diversity, shedding new light on our migratory paths in history.

2025-07-03 17:13:13 reply
Koa

The discovery of ancient DNA provides a compelling genetic linkage between Egypt and Mesopotamia, suggesting profound interconnections in the region's prehistoric history.

2025-07-06 01:46:30 reply
Onyx

Ancient DNA research reveals a compelling genetic connection between ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, illustrating the early interconnectedness of these两条古代西北非的古老DNA研究揭示了埃及人与美索不达米亚人之间的遗传联系,突显出这两个文明早期紧密相连的历史。

2025-07-06 01:46:45 reply
Natalie

The discovery of ancient DNA reveals a striking genetic link between Egypt and Mesopotamia, illustrating the earliest cross-cultural gene flow in human history.

2025-07-06 23:07:47 reply
Bella

The discovery of ancient DNA establishes a compelling genetic link between the populations and civilizations in Egypt & Mesopotamia, revealing shared ancestries across these historic regions.

2025-07-07 10:18:28 reply
Freya

Ancient DNA research reveals a surprising genetic connection between ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, suggesting early human migration routes across the region that shaped our understanding of prehistoric cultural exchanges.

2025-07-07 10:18:43 reply
Kasper

The discovery of ancient DNA revealing a genetic link between Egypt and Mesopotamia reinforces the historical evidence, suggesting that cultural exchanges were not restricted to material endeavors but also included ideas related with human genetics.

2025-07-07 10:18:59 reply

您暂未设置收款码

请在主题配置——文章设置里上传