This Man's DNA Changes Egypt's History, Scientists Are Shocked

The man's remains were discovered in a sealed clay vessel in Nuwayrat, a village south of Cairo. Researchers believe he lived between 4,500 and 4,800 years ago, the period when the oldest pyramids were built. It is the oldest complete Egyptian genome ever obtained.

Studies have shown that 80 percent of its DNA came from North African peoples, while the remaining 20 percent came from West Asia and Mesopotamia. This means that ancient Egypt may have had stronger ties to the regions of the so-called Fertile Crescent than previously thought – evidence that had previously been based only on archaeological evidence, not genetic evidence.

“By combining the DNA, teeth and bone data, we were able to build an incredibly detailed picture of this individual’s life,” said lead author Dr Adeline Morez Jacobs of Liverpool John Moores University.

Secrets from Teeth and Bones

Thanks to the exceptionally well-preserved skeleton, the research team was able to analyze the structure of the teeth and the condition of the bones, obtaining information about the man's diet, childhood environment and lifestyle. The analyses indicate that he lived in the Nile Valley, where he consumed plant foods, wheat, barley and animal protein - typical of Egypt at that time.

His origins were also investigated – one fifth of his ancestors came from Mesopotamia, which is confirmed by genomic comparisons with over 3,800 people (both ancient and modern).

Although this is just one sample, it is an invaluable source of knowledge about human migrations during the formation of the first civilizations.

Breakthrough thanks to new technologies

This achievement was possible thanks to the modern method of so-called shotgun sequencing – which involves analyzing all the DNA fragments obtained from a sample. This approach allows scientists to obtain a complete picture of the genome and make it available for further research without having to reach for the bones again.

– This is the first such complete genome of an ancient Egyptian, which may be the starting point for a new chapter in research into the history of this region – emphasized Dr. Linus Girdland-Flink from the University of Aberdeen.

The man was not mummified—which, paradoxically, may have protected his DNA from destruction. The burial conditions, including a sealed clay vessel and a stone tomb, provided the stability necessary to preserve genetic material for thousands of years.

Who was this man?

Skeletal analysis suggests the man had brown eyes, dark hair, and swarthy skin, and lived to an impressive age—between 44 and 64—which, at the time, would have been equivalent to someone in their 80s today.

His bones show signs of intense physical labor: inflammation, vertebral deformities, and evidence of heavy lifting. His pelvis shows that he spent many hours sitting on hard surfaces, and his posture suggests that he often stooped. All of this suggests that he may have been a craftsman—a potter, perhaps.

What is unusual, however, is that he was buried in a way that was usually reserved for people of higher social status. Perhaps his exceptional skills earned him respect and a funeral ceremony that was unusual for a craftsman.

A New Chapter in Egyptian Studies

In the past, attempts to extract DNA from ancient Egyptian mummies have failed due to the harsh climate and chemicals used in the mummification process. Today's achievements, made possible by new technologies, open the door to further discoveries.

Researchers hope that in the future it will be possible to read more genomes from the Old Kingdom and compare them with the people of the Fertile Crescent and other regions of Africa.

“Each genome is a unique piece of the puzzle of human history,” Girdland-Flink concluded. “While we will never know all of them, we want to collect enough of them to reconstruct the key events that shaped who we are today.”

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