Hannah Moots

Hannah Moots, a Stockholm-based paleogeneticist, explores what ancient DNA reveals about Rome’s past. They discuss extracting DNA from ancient bones, tracing migration through genomes and isotopes, and comparing Roman populations across 10,000 years. The conversation spans pre-imperial diversity, imperial Rome’s Mediterranean connections, late antique shifts, Neanderthals, ancestry testing, and the political misuse of genetic history.

Dr. Hannah Moots, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Paleogenetics, discusses the groundbreaking impact of ancient DNA on understanding the Iron Age Mediterranean. She details how genomic records reveal the intricate migrations and interactions among ancient cultures like the Greeks and Phoenicians. Moots examines the complexities of identity and ancestry within the diverse populations of ancient Rome, and highlights the significance of short-distance movements that shaped historical narratives. Her insights revolutionize our view of mobility and cultural dynamics during this fascinating era.