Jingszo !

Although our analyses are limited to a single Egyptian individual who, on the basis of his relatively high-status burial, may not be representative of the general population, our results revealed ancestry links to earlier North African groups and populations of the eastern Fertile Crescent. Analogous links were indicated in our biological affinity analyses of dental traits and craniometrics of the Nuwayrat individual, as well as in previous morphological studies based on full samples.

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.

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.

Future whole-genome sequencing of DNA from more individuals will allow for a more detailed and nuanced understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization and its inhabitants.