Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian

Morez Jacobs, A ORCID: 0000-0003-2393-7931, Irish, JD ORCID: 0000-0001-7857-8847, Cooke, A ORCID: 0009-0008-1264-0095, Anastasiadou, K ORCID: 0000-0001-8033-6070, Barrington, C ORCID: 0000-0003-1281-2658, Gilardet, A, Kelly, M ORCID: 0009-0006-7075-1290, Silva, M ORCID: 0000-0002-3756-0920, Speidel, L ORCID: 0000-0002-4644-8033, Tait, F ORCID: 0009-0004-1864-5867, Williams, M, Brucato, N, Ricaut, F-X ORCID: 0000-0001-7609-7898, Wilkinson, C ORCID: 0000-0002-4603-5554, Madgwick, R, Holt, E ORCID: 0000-0002-2300-2610, Nederbragt, AJ, Inglis, E ORCID: 0000-0002-4183-0663, Hajdinjak, M ORCID: 0000-0002-4064-0331, Skoglund, P ORCID: 0000-0002-3021-5913 et al (2025) Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836

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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 Age2,3,4,5. 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)6,7,8,9 but also encompassed human migration.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	General Science & Technology
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1001 Forensic Medicine. Medical jurisprudence. Legal medicine
Divisions:	Art and Design Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Nature Research
Date of acceptance:	23 May 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	3 July 2025
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2025 09:19
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 09:30
DOI or ID number:	10.1038/s41586-025-09195-5
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26707

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