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Ancient DNA Reveals 7,000-Year-Old North African Lineage

4/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study of ancient DNA from two mummified women in Libya's Takarkori rock shelter has unveiled a mysterious North African lineage, untouched for over 7,000 years. With minimal Neanderthal ancestry, this discovery indicates that pastoralism thrived through cultural exchange rather than migration, reshaping our understanding of human movement in the Sahara during the African Humid Period.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study of ancient DNA from two mummified women in Libya's Takarkori rock shelter has unveiled a mysterious North African lineage, untouched for over 7,000 years. With minimal Neanderthal ancestry, this discovery indicates that pastoralism thrived through cultural exchange rather than migration, reshaping our understanding of human movement in the Sahara during the African Humid Period.