Ajeje Brazorf
02-01-2025, 02:26 PM
Source: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18979/
This study presents the first ancient DNA recovered from an Old Kingdom Egyptian, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the population genetics of Pyramid-age Egypt.
- Results show strong genetic links to the Levant, particularly with Natufian populations.
- Evidence of Caucasus and Anatolian ancestry in later Egyptian samples supports the hypothesis of continued gene flow from West Asia.
- Neolithic samples from Sudan (Ghaba) suggest population continuity in Nubia, with ties to later Nubian groups.
New Samples Analyzed from Egypt and Sudan
In total, 94 samples were analyzed from three key locations:
1. Nuerat (Central Egypt)
- One individual (NUE001) from the Old Kingdom (3rd-4th Dynasty, 2868–2492 BCE).
- Located south of Beni Hassan, the site contained around 100 rock-cut tombs.
- The individual was buried in a rock-cut tomb inside a pottery vessel, a burial practice common in early dynastic royal cemeteries like Giza.
- DNA was extracted from seven samples of this individual.
Sample Information
- Seven DNA extracts were prepared:
- NUE001b1-b4: Extracted from loose teeth.
- NUE001b5-b7: Extracted from in situ lower teeth.
- Five libraries were combined to create the final single sample (NUE001).
- Two libraries were discarded due to contamination.
Genetic Analysis
- mtDNA Haplogroup: I
- Originated in West Asia ~21,000 years ago.
- Found at low frequencies (~5%) in ancient Egyptians from pre-Ptolemaic, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods.
- Y-Chromosome Haplogroup: E1b1b1b2
- A subclade of E1b1b, commonly seen in North Africans, Berbers, and populations in the Western Desert.
- Closely related to haplogroups found in ancient Guanches of the Canary Islands.
Genome Coverage
- Sequenced at ~0.22X depth.
- Two libraries (SKO719A1708 & SKO719A1710) underwent deep sequencing (~300-800 million reads).
- Autosomal contamination was minimal (~2%).
Ancestry and Population Affinities
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) placed NUE001 close to modern populations from the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa.
- Strongest genetic affinity was found with Epipaleolithic Levantine Natufians (15,000-12,000 BCE).
- Minimal contributions from Anatolian, Caucasus, or Iran Mesolithic populations.
- No significant sub-Saharan African ancestry detected.
2. Armant (Upper Egypt, near Luxor)
- Three individuals:
- Two from the Pre-Dynastic Period.
- One from the Middle Kingdom/Second Intermediate Period.
- The site was a worship center for Montu, the war god.
- Burial evidence points to a weakly stratified farming community, with two elite burials at the end of the Pre-Dynastic Period.
- Armant samples did not yield high-coverage nuclear DNA, limiting the depth of genetic analysis.
3. Ghaba (Sudan)
- 76 samples from a Neolithic cemetery (5621–3533 BCE).
- Located 150 km northeast of Khartoum, in the Shendi region.
- 264 Neolithic graves and 63 historic graves were excavated.
- Phytolith analysis confirmed the presence of domesticated wheat and barley.
- The population showed a biological affinity with Upper Nubians, indicating continuity with later groups.
Key Genetic and Anthropological Discoveries
1. The First Genome of an Old Kingdom Egyptian (NUE001)
- This genome is the oldest human DNA retrieved from Egypt.
- Genetic Affinities:
- Strong ties to Epipaleolithic Levantine Natufians, suggesting contact with the Levant over 4,000 years ago.
- Minor genetic input from Anatolia Epipaleolithic, Caucasus Palaeolithic, or Iran Mesolithic populations.
- No detectable sub-Saharan African ancestry.
- Social Implications:
- Nuerat was not a royal cemetery, but the burial likely belonged to a wealthy individual.
- The rock-cut tomb suggests the individual was of aristocratic, but not royal, status.
- The presence of Levantine-related ancestry aligns with archaeological evidence of cultural exchange during the early Old Kingdom.
2. Population Movements and Admixture Patterns
- The study investigated gene flow across Egypt and Nubia, focusing on:
- Neolithic spread across the region.
- Dynastic period migrations.
- The Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer (CHG) component entering Egypt.
- Admixture Patterns:
- Egyptians from the Third Intermediate Period show evidence of admixture between Old Kingdom Egyptians and Early Bronze Age Levantines or Anatolians.
- This gene flow likely began during the Hyksos period (1650–1550 BCE), when Canaanite rulers dominated Lower and Middle Egypt.
- Present-day North Sudanese populations (Nubians, Beja, Arabs) exhibit a balanced mix of Nilotic and West Asian ancestry, reflecting this long history of interaction.
This study presents the first ancient DNA recovered from an Old Kingdom Egyptian, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the population genetics of Pyramid-age Egypt.
- Results show strong genetic links to the Levant, particularly with Natufian populations.
- Evidence of Caucasus and Anatolian ancestry in later Egyptian samples supports the hypothesis of continued gene flow from West Asia.
- Neolithic samples from Sudan (Ghaba) suggest population continuity in Nubia, with ties to later Nubian groups.
New Samples Analyzed from Egypt and Sudan
In total, 94 samples were analyzed from three key locations:
1. Nuerat (Central Egypt)
- One individual (NUE001) from the Old Kingdom (3rd-4th Dynasty, 2868–2492 BCE).
- Located south of Beni Hassan, the site contained around 100 rock-cut tombs.
- The individual was buried in a rock-cut tomb inside a pottery vessel, a burial practice common in early dynastic royal cemeteries like Giza.
- DNA was extracted from seven samples of this individual.
Sample Information
- Seven DNA extracts were prepared:
- NUE001b1-b4: Extracted from loose teeth.
- NUE001b5-b7: Extracted from in situ lower teeth.
- Five libraries were combined to create the final single sample (NUE001).
- Two libraries were discarded due to contamination.
Genetic Analysis
- mtDNA Haplogroup: I
- Originated in West Asia ~21,000 years ago.
- Found at low frequencies (~5%) in ancient Egyptians from pre-Ptolemaic, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods.
- Y-Chromosome Haplogroup: E1b1b1b2
- A subclade of E1b1b, commonly seen in North Africans, Berbers, and populations in the Western Desert.
- Closely related to haplogroups found in ancient Guanches of the Canary Islands.
Genome Coverage
- Sequenced at ~0.22X depth.
- Two libraries (SKO719A1708 & SKO719A1710) underwent deep sequencing (~300-800 million reads).
- Autosomal contamination was minimal (~2%).
Ancestry and Population Affinities
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) placed NUE001 close to modern populations from the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa.
- Strongest genetic affinity was found with Epipaleolithic Levantine Natufians (15,000-12,000 BCE).
- Minimal contributions from Anatolian, Caucasus, or Iran Mesolithic populations.
- No significant sub-Saharan African ancestry detected.
2. Armant (Upper Egypt, near Luxor)
- Three individuals:
- Two from the Pre-Dynastic Period.
- One from the Middle Kingdom/Second Intermediate Period.
- The site was a worship center for Montu, the war god.
- Burial evidence points to a weakly stratified farming community, with two elite burials at the end of the Pre-Dynastic Period.
- Armant samples did not yield high-coverage nuclear DNA, limiting the depth of genetic analysis.
3. Ghaba (Sudan)
- 76 samples from a Neolithic cemetery (5621–3533 BCE).
- Located 150 km northeast of Khartoum, in the Shendi region.
- 264 Neolithic graves and 63 historic graves were excavated.
- Phytolith analysis confirmed the presence of domesticated wheat and barley.
- The population showed a biological affinity with Upper Nubians, indicating continuity with later groups.
Key Genetic and Anthropological Discoveries
1. The First Genome of an Old Kingdom Egyptian (NUE001)
- This genome is the oldest human DNA retrieved from Egypt.
- Genetic Affinities:
- Strong ties to Epipaleolithic Levantine Natufians, suggesting contact with the Levant over 4,000 years ago.
- Minor genetic input from Anatolia Epipaleolithic, Caucasus Palaeolithic, or Iran Mesolithic populations.
- No detectable sub-Saharan African ancestry.
- Social Implications:
- Nuerat was not a royal cemetery, but the burial likely belonged to a wealthy individual.
- The rock-cut tomb suggests the individual was of aristocratic, but not royal, status.
- The presence of Levantine-related ancestry aligns with archaeological evidence of cultural exchange during the early Old Kingdom.
2. Population Movements and Admixture Patterns
- The study investigated gene flow across Egypt and Nubia, focusing on:
- Neolithic spread across the region.
- Dynastic period migrations.
- The Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer (CHG) component entering Egypt.
- Admixture Patterns:
- Egyptians from the Third Intermediate Period show evidence of admixture between Old Kingdom Egyptians and Early Bronze Age Levantines or Anatolians.
- This gene flow likely began during the Hyksos period (1650–1550 BCE), when Canaanite rulers dominated Lower and Middle Egypt.
- Present-day North Sudanese populations (Nubians, Beja, Arabs) exhibit a balanced mix of Nilotic and West Asian ancestry, reflecting this long history of interaction.