Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning

Bonus monologue: ancient North Africans and the Green Sahara

Apr 30, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of ancient North African genetics as a new study reveals insights from the Green Sahara. Discover how this once-lush region supported human life and shaped pastoralist cultures. Learn about the distinct lineage of inhabitants diverging from sub-Saharan ancestors and the intricate migration patterns that influenced genetic diversity. Uncover the legacy of the Pleistocene-to-Holocene transition and the mysterious connections between early human populations across the continent.
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INSIGHT

Green Sahara's Ancient Genetic Isolation

  • The Sahara was lush and habitable during the African Humid Period between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago.
  • Ancient DNA shows a distinct North African lineage isolated through much of its existence, unrelated closely to sub-Saharan Africans.
INSIGHT

Sahara's Harsh Ice Age Barrier

  • During the last Ice Age, the Sahara was extremely dry and forbidding, reducing population movement across the region.
  • This isolation explains little sub-Saharan admixture in ancient North African populations during the Green Sahara period.
INSIGHT

Sub-Saharan Gene Flow Post-Islamic Period

  • Most sub-Saharan African ancestry in North Africa occurred during the Islamic period due to trade and slavery.
  • Ancient populations in North Africa prior to Islam showed minimal sub-Saharan African genetic influence.
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