Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian

Adeline Morez Jacobs (), Joel D. Irish, Ashley Cooke, Kyriaki Anastasiadou, Christopher Barrington, Alexandre Gilardet, Monica Kelly, Marina Silva, Leo Speidel, Frankie Tait, Mia Williams, Nicolas Brucato, Francois-Xavier Ricaut, Caroline Wilkinson, Richard Madgwick, Emily Holt, Alexandra J. Nederbragt, Edward Inglis, Mateja Hajdinjak, Pontus Skoglund () and Linus Girdland-Flink ()
Additional contact information
Adeline Morez Jacobs: Liverpool John Moores University
Joel D. Irish: Liverpool John Moores University
Ashley Cooke: National Museums Liverpool
Kyriaki Anastasiadou: The Francis Crick Institute
Christopher Barrington: The Francis Crick Institute
Alexandre Gilardet: The Francis Crick Institute
Monica Kelly: The Francis Crick Institute
Marina Silva: The Francis Crick Institute
Leo Speidel: The Francis Crick Institute
Frankie Tait: The Francis Crick Institute
Mia Williams: The Francis Crick Institute
Nicolas Brucato: Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Francois-Xavier Ricaut: Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Caroline Wilkinson: Liverpool John Moores University
Richard Madgwick: Cardiff University
Emily Holt: Cardiff University
Alexandra J. Nederbragt: Cardiff University
Edward Inglis: Cardiff University
Mateja Hajdinjak: The Francis Crick Institute
Pontus Skoglund: The Francis Crick Institute
Linus Girdland-Flink: Liverpool John Moores University

Nature, 2025, vol. 644, issue 8077, 714-721

Abstract: Abstract Ancient Egyptian society flourished for millennia, reaching its peak during the Dynastic Period (approximately 3150–30 bce). However, owing to poor DNA preservation, questions about regional interconnectivity over time have not been addressed because whole-genome sequencing has not yet been possible. Here we sequenced a 2× coverage whole genome from an adult male Egyptian excavated at Nuwayrat (Nuerat, نويرات). Radiocarbon dated to 2855–2570 cal. bce, he lived a few centuries after Egyptian unification, bridging the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. The body was interred in a ceramic pot within a rock-cut tomb1, potentially contributing to the DNA preservation. Most of his genome is best represented by North African Neolithic ancestry, among available sources at present. Yet approximately 20% of his genetic ancestry can be traced to genomes representing the eastern Fertile Crescent, including Mesopotamia and surrounding regions. This genetic affinity is similar to the ancestry appearing in Anatolia and the Levant during the Neolithic and Bronze Age2–5. Although more genomes are needed to fully understand the genomic diversity of early Egyptians, our results indicate that contacts between Egypt and the eastern Fertile Crescent were not limited to objects and imagery (such as domesticated animals and plants, as well as writing systems)6–9 but also encompassed human migration.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09195-5

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