Egypt’s Oldest Genome Decoded: Scientists unlock DNA secrets of a man buried 4,800 years ago

What This 4,800-Year-Old Egyptian Skeleton Just Revealed Will Blow Your Mind

Scientists have, for the first time ever, fully decoded the genome of an ancient Egyptian. The DNA belongs to a man who lived around 4,500 to 4,800 years ago, during the early period when Egypt’s famous pyramids were being built.

His remains were found buried in a sealed clay pot in Nuwayrat, a village south of Cairo. This makes it the oldest known DNA sample from ancient Egypt. After studying his genetic material, researchers found that 80% of his ancestry came from ancient North Africans, while 20% came from people in West Asia and Mesopotamia—regions that now include Iraq, Iran, and Jordan.

Published in the journal Nature, the study reveals that Egypt may have had cultural and genetic connections with ancient civilizations in the Fertile Crescent. Earlier, such links were only assumed based on archaeological finds—not genetic proof.

The man’s skeleton showed signs of a physically demanding life. According to Dr. Adeline Morez Jacobs, the lead author, studying his DNA, bones, and teeth helped scientists form a detailed picture of his background. She added that more such DNA samples in the future could help pinpoint when people from West Asia began arriving in Egypt.

DNA Breakthrough After Decades

Earlier efforts to get DNA from Egyptian remains, including those by Nobel Prize winner Svante Pääbo, had failed due to poor preservation. Heat, humidity, and time make DNA break down quickly.

Past studies had only managed to partially sequence the DNA of three ancient Egyptians from later time periods. But with new technology, the team used a method called shotgun sequencing, which reads all DNA from a sample. This allowed them to extract a complete genome from a tooth found in the man’s well-preserved remains.

Interestingly, the man was not mummified—this was before mummification became common in Egypt. That, along with the protective clay pot and rock tomb, helped preserve his DNA.

Ancestry and Daily Life

Researchers took a small part of the man’s tooth to extract DNA. They compared it with the genomes of over 3,000 modern people and 805 ancient individuals. They also looked at chemical markers in his teeth, which showed he likely grew up in Egypt’s Nile Valley and ate local food like wheat, barley, and animal products.

Still, about 20% of his ancestry was traced to Mesopotamia, suggesting people may have moved into Egypt in large numbers from that region. His skull and teeth also showed traits common among people from Western Asia.

This discovery helps answer long-standing questions about whether Egypt’s earliest rulers were mainly local North Africans or if people from the Middle East also played a role. According to Harvard geneticist Iosif Lazaridis, the findings confirm that people with mostly North African ancestry—but some Mesopotamian influence—lived in early dynastic Egypt.

The Man Behind the Genome

The man was about 5 feet tall and lived between 44 and 64 years, which was considered very old at that time. His bones showed signs of arthritis, osteoporosis, and years of hard labor. He likely spent much of his life bent forward, lifting and carrying heavy items.

Marks on his body suggest he might have worked with his hands in front of him—possibly as a potter. While potters were usually not buried with honor, the elaborate burial suggests he was either highly skilled or rose in status.

Dr. Joel Irish, a dental anthropologist, believes he could have been involved with pottery making, especially since pottery wheels were introduced in Egypt around that time.

What’s Next in Ancient DNA Research?

Before written language and the pottery wheel were introduced, domesticated plants and animals had already spread across Egypt and the Fertile Crescent. Now, researchers are asking: Were people also moving along these routes?

This study is only the beginning. More ancient DNA samples from Egypt and surrounding regions could help piece together a clearer picture of how early human civilizations were connected.

As Dr. Linus Girdland-Flink put it, “Each ancient genome is like a puzzle piece. The more we find, the more we’ll understand how human history unfolded.”