Scientists have uncovered new insights into a mysterious human lineage in the ancient Sahara desert. Using DNA analysis of two 7,000-year-old mummies found in Libya’s Takarkori rock shelter, researchers from Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have shed light on the region’s past.
The study, published in Nature, reveals that this hidden lineage diverged from sub-Saharan African populations around the same time as modern humans migrated out of Africa. The mummies shared genetic ties with ancient foragers who lived in Morocco and had Neandertal ancestry. However, their DNA was distinct, with tenfold less Neandertal DNA than people outside Africa.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about North African population history, suggesting that cultural exchange rather than large-scale migration drove the spread of pastoralism across the “Green Sahara.” The discovery highlights a deeply rooted and long-isolated genetic lineage in the region.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/green-sahara-desert-home-to-mysterious-human-lineage-study-says