New study reveals ancient Egypt's genetic ties to Morocco's Neolithic population
Published on July 2, 2025, in the journal Nature, the findings are based on the genome sequencing of a well-preserved burial in the Nuwayrat necropolis in Middle Egypt, near the village of Beni Hasan, 265 km south of Cairo. The analysis revealed that the remaining 20% of the individual's ancestry traces back to the eastern Fertile Crescent, including early agricultural societies of Mesopotamia.
This genetic affinity is similar to that found in Neolithic and Bronze Age populations in Anatolia and the Levant, the researchers note. Burial conditions suggest that the individual belonged to the elite social class of the time.
While more genomes need to be analyzed to better understand the genetic diversity of early Egypt, the findings suggest that links with the Fertile Crescent extended beyond material culture, such as domesticated animals, plants, or writing systems, and included human migration.
«One possible explanation for the successful whole-genome retrieval is the pot burial, which may have favoured a degree of DNA preservation not previously reported in Egypt», the study states. This contributes to the road map for future research to obtain ancient DNA from Egypt.
North Africa's Role in Egypt's Origins
This research reinforces the idea that North Africa may have played a more significant role in the origins of ancient Egypt than previously thought.
Ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for millennia, peaking during the dynastic period (circa 3150–30 BC). Notably, this coincides with the existence of an agricultural society in Morocco, dated between 3400 and 2900 BC, the first such complex in Africa outside the Nile Valley. This suggests that Neolithic North Africa may have played a central role in the region's history.
Until now, poor DNA preservation in the Nile Valley has limited understanding of Egypt's genetic and regional connections. In this study, researchers succeeded in sequencing the full genome, at 2x coverage, of an adult male buried in Nuwayrat. Radiocarbon dating places the remains between 2855 and 2570 BCE, a period that spans the early dynastic era and the Old Kingdom.
The man's body was buried inside a ceramic pot placed in a rock-cut tomb, a burial practice typically reserved for individuals of higher status, as seen in elite burials of the same period near the royal necropolis of Memphis.
Opening New Research Frontiers
Although the study is based on a single genome and may not reflect the broader population, the data reveal ancestral ties with older North African populations and those from the eastern Fertile Crescent.
«Analyses of dental traits and craniometrics of the Nuwayrat individual, as well as in previous morphological studies based on full samples», the researchers explain.
These findings add to the evidence of cultural diffusion from the eastern Fertile Crescent, particularly in plant and animal domestication and social organization. They also suggest the possibility of human migrations to Egypt during these early periods.
«The Nuwayrat genome also allowed us to investigate the Bronze Age roots of ancestry in later Egypt, highlighting the interplay between population movement and continuity in the region», the study concludes.
Looking ahead, sequencing more ancient genomes could deepen our understanding of Egypt's early population structure, its connections with the rest of Africa, and the broader patterns of intracontinental migration.
For now, this research broadens the historical lens—inviting a more nuanced exploration of ancient Egyptian identity and its African roots.
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Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
New study reveals ancient Egypt's genetic ties to Morocco's Neolithic population
Until now, genetic models used to trace the origins of ancient Egyptian populations have largely focused on connections with the Eastern Mediterranean or the Levant. But a new study could challenge those assumptions. A team of researchers from Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France has identified a strong ancestral link with Neolithic populations of the Western Mediterranean, specifically from present-day Morocco, which accounts for 77.6% of the genetic origin. Published on July 2, 2025, in the journal Nature, the findings are based on the genome sequencing of a well-preserved burial in the Nuwayrat necropolis in Middle Egypt, near the village of Beni Hasan, 265 km south of Cairo. The analysis revealed that the remaining 20% of the individual's ancestry traces back to the eastern Fertile Crescent, including early agricultural societies of Mesopotamia. This genetic affinity is similar to that found in Neolithic and Bronze Age populations in Anatolia and the Levant, the researchers note. Burial conditions suggest that the individual belonged to the elite social class of the time. While more genomes need to be analyzed to better understand the genetic diversity of early Egypt, the findings suggest that links with the Fertile Crescent extended beyond material culture, such as domesticated animals, plants, or writing systems, and included human migration. «One possible explanation for the successful whole-genome retrieval is the pot burial, which may have favoured a degree of DNA preservation not previously reported in Egypt», the study states. This contributes to the road map for future research to obtain ancient DNA from Egypt. North Africa's Role in Egypt's Origins This research reinforces the idea that North Africa may have played a more significant role in the origins of ancient Egypt than previously thought. Ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for millennia, peaking during the dynastic period (circa 3150–30 BC). Notably, this coincides with the existence of an agricultural society in Morocco, dated between 3400 and 2900 BC, the first such complex in Africa outside the Nile Valley. This suggests that Neolithic North Africa may have played a central role in the region's history. Until now, poor DNA preservation in the Nile Valley has limited understanding of Egypt's genetic and regional connections. In this study, researchers succeeded in sequencing the full genome, at 2x coverage, of an adult male buried in Nuwayrat. Radiocarbon dating places the remains between 2855 and 2570 BCE, a period that spans the early dynastic era and the Old Kingdom. The man's body was buried inside a ceramic pot placed in a rock-cut tomb, a burial practice typically reserved for individuals of higher status, as seen in elite burials of the same period near the royal necropolis of Memphis. Opening New Research Frontiers Although the study is based on a single genome and may not reflect the broader population, the data reveal ancestral ties with older North African populations and those from the eastern Fertile Crescent. «Analyses of dental traits and craniometrics of the Nuwayrat individual, as well as in previous morphological studies based on full samples», the researchers explain. These findings add to the evidence of cultural diffusion from the eastern Fertile Crescent, particularly in plant and animal domestication and social organization. They also suggest the possibility of human migrations to Egypt during these early periods. «The Nuwayrat genome also allowed us to investigate the Bronze Age roots of ancestry in later Egypt, highlighting the interplay between population movement and continuity in the region», the study concludes. Looking ahead, sequencing more ancient genomes could deepen our understanding of Egypt's early population structure, its connections with the rest of Africa, and the broader patterns of intracontinental migration. For now, this research broadens the historical lens—inviting a more nuanced exploration of ancient Egyptian identity and its African roots.
Ya Biladi
10-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Bread : A Moroccan tradition rooted in millennia-old practices
More than just a daily staple, bread symbolizes the accumulation of traditions, the transmission of know-how, and the preservation of ancestral ways of life. In Morocco, there are many regional variations, but the basic method typically involves mixing ground cereals (flour), yeast, salt, water, and sometimes olive oil. Within Amazigh culinary heritage, tafarnout exemplifies a centuries-old tradition: kneading a simple dough and baking it in an earthen oven to accompany every meal, breakfast, and snack. This practice has been passed down through generations, often enjoyed with argan oil, honey, or amlou, a traditional almond spread. While it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when traditional bread became part of Moroccan cuisine, historical evidence shows that this type of preparation is common to many ancient civilizations. Even in prehistoric times, combining water and cereals laid the foundation for early sustenance. Archaeological findings have revealed the earliest evidence of flour dating back to the Upper Paleolithic, around 30,000 years ago. Later, during the Neolithic period, about 10,000 years ago, flour was transformed into unleavened bread as wheat and barley cultivation emerged in Mesopotamia and along the Nile. A Process Developed by Ancient Civilizations With the rise of agriculture, bread preparation became widespread. Between 3400 and 3200 BC, more advanced techniques appeared, including retaining some dough from the previous day as a leaven to induce fermentation. This method was notably practiced in Greece, as archaeological finds at Pompeii confirm. Ancient Egypt (3150–31 BC) saw a significant evolution in bread-making, which became a societal symbol. Cereals were cooked into thick porridge, likely why many historical accounts associate bread's origins with this region. Food historian Pierre Leclercq, a scientific collaborator at the Transitions Research Unit at the University of Liège, explains this in detail. In his 2018 interview, «The Great Myths of Gastronomy: The History of Bread», Leclercq revisits the story of leavened bread's origins, including the legend of an Egyptian peasant woman who supposedly left dough forgotten in a corner, only to find it had risen days later. Leclercq notes this tale was popularized by 19th-century sociologist Louis Bourdeau, who, in his 1894 book History of Food, argued that early farmers invented the millstone to grind grain into flour. Initially, this flour was eaten as porridge «a very simple, quick preparation, but one that was unappetizing and heavy on the stomach». According to him, leavened bread would thus be an invention dating back nearly 4,000 years. «Forty years after the publication of Louis Bourdeau's work, this story was taken up and refined by Polish botanist Adam Maurizio in his monumental History of Plant-Based Food, published in 1932, which would become authoritative for the next fifty years. Not only is this story far too simplistic, but it also involves several myths», explains Pierre Leclercq. In his remarks, the historian indeed deconstructs «the myth of a linear evolution from porridge, necessarily rustic and indigestible, to flatbread and finally to leavened bread, the pinnacle of civilization that ousted its predecessors». «Faced with archaeological reality, this cultural prejudice does not hold up. On one hand, it is quite probable that flatbread preceded porridge, not the other way around, and on the other hand, it is noted that porridge was sometimes preferred over flatbread, despite the presence of bread-making wheats, as, for example, at the Neolithic site of Çatal Höyük», he emphasized. «Theories of chance present our ancestors as passive beings entangled in a routine that would only be disrupted by one accident or another responsible for a spontaneous innovation, as if fallen from the sky. The men and women of the Neolithic and Late Antiquity were capable of anticipation; they had imagination. One action leads to another, and a product progresses slowly with technological, agricultural, but also cultural evolutions». Traditions Rooted in Culinary Habits Further on, Pierre Leclercq mentions that despite limited archaeological evidence, it could be said that sourdough bread might have emerged around 6,000 BC, with the proliferation of bread molds in the Middle East. «But this does not mean that leavened bread eradicated all other forms of cereal products, as in Neolithic Europe as well as in Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, breads, porridges, and flatbreads coexisted», he specifies. This coexistence explains the many regional variations in dough and cereal mixtures around the Mediterranean, such as Morocco's tafarnout. In Europe, bread-making evolved over centuries, becoming a social marker by the Christian medieval era. For example, stale bread was used as an edible plate, or «trencher», a practice that continued until wooden plates became common. On the southern shore of the Mediterranean, a distinction between «white bread» and «black bread» existed, notes Mohamed Houbaida, history professor at Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. In his 2017 book Vegetal Morocco – Agriculture and Food in Pre-Colonial Morocco (Le Fennec), Houbaida highlights Morocco's rich cereal production history. Barley and whole-grain breads were staples for the general population, while wheat-based bread was traditionally reserved for the elite. The taste of kneaded, baked dough has long attracted enthusiasts beyond cultural boundaries. Houbaida cites Danish consul Georg Høst, who lived in Rabat in the 18th century and described Moroccan white bread in 1799 as «the best in the world». Houbaida also points to different dough variations—some with yeast, some without—prepared in cities and rural areas. Industrial flour-based bread only became widespread in Morocco in the mid-20th century. Beyond being a culinary habit, bread-making has been a driver for many trades: neighborhood ovens, mills, and bakeries emerged as integral parts of society. Despite economic, social, and industrial changes, bread remains central to daily diets in Morocco.
Morocco World
12-04-2025
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Moroccan Archeologists Unearth Lost Chapter in Moroccan History
An archeological study published by Cambridge University Press in February revealed a 4200-year-old settlement in the northwest of Morocco – a scientific breakthrough given that this region was thought to have been uninhabited before the Phoenicians. Morocco World News spoke to Hamza Benattia, the Archeologist who led his team to this discovery, to gain insights into the research and the people behind it. Finding Kach Kouch The story of Kach Kouch begins in 1988, in the Oued Laou Valley of northwestern Morocco. The site was first discovered by a Moroccan-Spanish team led by Mohamed-Abdeljalil El Hajraoui and Manuel Fernandez-Miranda. Initially known as Dhar Moudden, the landowners at the time—the Baztaoui family—referred to it as 'Kach Kouch', a name believed to derive from 'Kshaouesh', meaning 'clatter,' probably in reference to the broken pottery sherds scattered across the site. Kach Kouch Archeological Site, Northwestern Morocco In 1992, targeted excavations led by Youssef Bokbot and Jorge Onrubia-pintado confirmed that Kach Kouch was an Iron Age Mauretanian settlement covering approximately 0.5 hectares, and settled between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The excavations at the time revealed evidence of habitations constructed employing a technique that involved weaving wooden branches (wattle) and covering them with mud or clay (daub). They also uncovered rock-cut silos for the storage of plant products such as cereals and pulses. North Africa before the Phoenicians Recent excavations at Kach Kouch, in 2021 and 2022, were led by Hamza Benattia Melgarejo from the University of Barcelona. His team uncovered evidence of human occupation dating from 2200 to 600 BC, making it the first known Bronze Age site in Mediterranean Africa—excluding Egypt. These findings challenge long-held assumptions that northwestern Africa was largely uninhabited until the Phoenicians arrived around 800 BC. Traditionally, the Mediterranean's European and Asian shores have been widely recognized for their cultural and economic developments during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages ,2200–550 BC, while the African side remained overlooked. However, the discoveries at Kach Kouch now reveal an early settlement dating back to 2200–2000 BC, followed by a stable and flourishing community between 1300 and 600 BC. This period saw the construction of wattle-and-daub buildings, the practice of agriculture and herding, and the development of distinctive cultural traditions. This study debunks the outdated belief that North Africa was uninhabited before the Phoenician arrival. Contrary to earlier assumptions, this region was home to settled farming and herding communities that engaged in cultural exchanges with other regions. The study also highlights the strong connections between Morocco and the wider Mediterranean and Atlantic. One striking example is a Bronze Age sword discovered in the Loukkos River (Larache) in the 1920s. The sword, now kept in a Berlin Museum, was likely crafted in what is now the United Kingdom or Ireland, proving that long-range exchanges and interactions occurred centuries before the Phoenicians arrived. Phoenicians and Local-Communities The Phoenicians were a semitic people known for seafaring and trade, mainly inhabiting the Levant, in modern day Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Through maritime trade and colonization, they expanded their influence widely across the Mediterranean and established settlements and trading hubs that stretched as far as Western and North Africa, with Carthage, in modern day Tunisia as one of their strongholds in the region, founded around 900-800 BC. One of the key legacies of the Phoenician expansion in modern day Morocco is the ancient settlement at Lixus, near Larache, which was founded around 750 BC. This site highlights the close relations between Phoenicians and local communities and their ability to blend their traditions; which impacted the region's historical and cultural developments. For example, Phoenicians introduced the alphabet, iron technology, the potter's wheel (wheel thrown pottery, because until then Moroccan pottery was handmade), as well as new domesticated plant species such as fruit trees. It is common knowledge that Amazigh people are the indigenous people that originally inhabited North Africa, so I asked Benattia if the study talks about this same community when talking about the people that inhabited the land in prehistoric times, before the Phoenicians. According to the archaeologist, the terms 'Amazigh' and 'Berber' were both coined in later times and not necessarily reflect how those prehistoric communities referred to themselves; which is why he finds the term 'local communities' or 'proto-Amazigh' more accurate. 'they for sure had a language already, probably similar to the today Amazigh language, but it's unlikely that they had this identity or sense of belonging to a people…they were more drawn towards tribal or kin based relations…there is something interesting related to that question that needs further investigation. For what we know now, the inhabitants of Kach Kouch are the direct ancestors of the mauretanian peoples' said Benattia. Hamza Benattia and Hassan Hachami taking measurement with the total station The Team Behind the Discovery This groundbreaking study , published by Cambridge University Press, was conducted primarily by a young Moroccan team from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage (INSAP) led by Hamza Benattia. Originally from Tangier, Benattia grew up cradled by the city's rich mythology, Roman heritage, and Mauretanian history. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in History at the University of Barcelona, followed by another degree in Archaeology. In 2018, he returned to Morocco to work on his PhD and carry out further archaeological research in the region, with another major study set to be published soon. Hamza Benattia— Leader of the 2025 Excavations at Kach Kouch Benattia emphasized the potential of Moroccan archaeology, despite challenges such as limited funding. He praised the dedication of Moroccan researchers, highlighting that their work being published in one of the world's most prestigious archaeological journals is a testament to their capabilities. Othmane Echcherif Baamrani, Meryem Benerradi, Oulaya El Idrissi, Maria Sahli and Hamza Benattia Noufel Ghayati and Oulaya El Idrissi Oulay El Idrissi and Maria Sahli 'I am happy that this discovery was made by a Moroccan team… I am really proud of that, at the same level as the discoveries themselves,' said Benattia Challenging Eurocentric Bias in Archaeology Despite Morocco's rich archaeological heritage, much of its history has been overlooked due to colonial influences. Benattia points out that when archaeology was introduced to North Africa, it was dominated by European colonial powers, which led to biased research priorities and neglected historical periods. 'Most of the Neolithic period up to the Phoenicians' arrival remains largely unknown—not only in Morocco but also in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.' — Hamza Benattia Colonialism shaped not just archaeological research methods and interpretations but also contributed to the looting of artifacts. European scholars often downplayed indigenous contributions, portraying North Africa as a land of wandering nomads and 'barbarians' rather than a region with complex societies and long-standing connections to global exchange networks. Moad Radi holding a chipped stone unearthed along with three pottery shards, a cow bone; all evidence of habitation that go back to 2200 and 2000 BC. Artifacts stolen under colonial rule—often displayed in European museums—were taken under the pretense that local populations would not recognize their historical value or know how to preserve them. Today, many archaeologists are working to decolonize the field and restore an accurate history of North Africa. Benattia and his team have played a crucial role in this movement by leading the first-ever archaeological project in Morocco conducted primarily by a Moroccan research team. Their work is rewriting history, proving that North Africa was not an isolated region but an integral part of the ancient Mediterranean and Atlantic networks. Excavation team with three members of a local speleologist association. A special team acknowledgment by Hamza Benattia It was crucial for Benattia to acknowledge every member of his team and laud their role in making this discovery, providing a list of all their names: The team is composed of Moad Radi specialist in polished tools, Meriem Benerradi specialist in human bones, Hassan Hachami specialist in animal bones, Bouchra Bouhamidi specialist in rock art, Othmane Echcherif-Baamrani specialist in chipped stones, Noufel Ghayati specialist in GIS and 3D modelling, Asmae el Qably specialist in Mauretanian pottery and Tachfine Touri specialist in plant remains. Other students that participated include Zayd Ouakrim, Mouna Qazzih, Maria Sahli, Oulaya El Idrissi, Ismael Toumi, Khaoula Hor, Malakout Kiche and Fatima Zohra Farhi.
