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Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian
Whole-genome sequencing of an ancient male Egyptian revealed a mixture of North African Neolithic and eastern Fertile Crescent ancestry, suggesting human migration between Egypt and Mesopotamia by the Old Kingdom period.
The genetic links with the eastern Fertile Crescent also mirror previously documented cultural diffusion (such as domesticated plants and animals, writing systems and the pottery wheel), opening up the possibility of some settlement of people in Egypt during one or more of these periods. Samples were acidified for 5 min with more than 100% ortho-phosphoric acid (density approximately 1.9 g cm –3) at 70 °C and analysed in duplicate using a MAT 253 dual-inlet mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) coupled to a Kiel IV carbonate preparation device using established protocols 74. Craniofacial analysis and facial reconstruction from skeletal remains were carried out using three-dimensional laser scan data of the skull (collected using an Artec Space Spider scanner), Touch X haptic device and Geomagic Freeform software 97.
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