The history of Ancient Egypt may be rewritten through DNA analysis of bones.

The history of Ancient Egypt may be rewritten through DNA analysis of bones.

A stark, white human skull is illustrated against a black background at Liverpool John Moores University. Nature
Tests conducted on the skull could provide new insights into ancient history.
A DNA analysis of a man who lived 4,500 years ago in the Nile Valley has illuminated aspects of the rise of the Ancient Egyptian civilization.

An examination of his skeleton indicates he was 60 years old and likely worked as a potter, while also revealing that a fifth of his DNA originated from ancestors residing 1,500 kilometers away in Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq.

This represents the first biological evidence of connections between the two civilizations and may help clarify how Egypt evolved from a fragmented collection of agricultural communities into one of the most powerful civilizations on Earth.

The findings support the perspective that writing and agriculture developed through the exchange of people and ideas between these two ancient societies.

The skeleton has disclosed remarkable details about the man's life.
The lead researcher, Professor Pontus Skoglund at the Francis Crick Institute in London, informed BBC News that the ability to extract and analyze DNA from ancient bones could provide new insights into historical events and individuals, allowing monochromatic historical facts to be enriched with vibrant details.

"If we obtain more DNA information and compare it with what we know from archaeological, cultural, and written records from that era, it will be incredibly exciting," he stated.

Our comprehension of history is partially derived from written accounts, which often reflect the perspectives of the wealthy and influential, primarily concerning the affluent and powerful.

BBC News