Genetic legacy: Ancient Saharan society unveiled through DNA
The latest genetic studies reveal that 7,000 years ago, the Sahara was home to a distinct group of people. This community lived in isolation and was significantly different from those residing in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Once lush with lakes and vegetation, the Sahara is now an inhospitable and harsh environment. Thousands of years ago, it was inhabited by a mysterious society of shepherds and their animals. Genetic research conducted by scientists from the Max Planck Institute indicates that the people living in the Sahara 7,000 years ago experienced considerable isolation, resulting in a limited gene pool.
An analysis of the DNA from two women buried in the Takarkori rock shelter in southwestern Libya revealed that they shared genetic similarities with hunter-gatherers from Morocco who lived 15,000 years ago. This finding suggests that there was a stable human population in North Africa before and during the Sahara's wet period.
The population was isolated for thousands of years
The isolation of the local population persisted for thousands of years, leading to the genetic lineage of those living in the Sahara differing from that of people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Genetic studies demonstrated that the inhabitants of Takarkori had less Neanderthal DNA than Moroccan hunter-gatherers but more than populations from southern Africa. This suggests that a barrier existed, limiting gene flow from Europe beyond the Sahara region.
Research on lake sediments, pollen samples, and archaeological findings confirms that people once thrived in what is now a dry desert, engaging in hunting, herding, and gathering. Archaeological discoveries indicate that the people of Takarkori were early shepherds, distinguishing them from the older Moroccan hunter-gatherers. Researchers believe that shepherding spread in the Sahara through cultural exchange rather than migration.
