A new study reveals that he lived in Central Sahara 7,000 years ago during the humid period of Africa. This group was in long quarantine from other groups.
DNA An analysis of two individuals naturally mummified from Libya dates back to the humid days of Africa (also known as the Green Sahara) for over 7,000 years, revealing the existence of long-standing human lineages in North Africa.
These individuals show no signs of sub-Saharan African ancestry and challenge the idea that the green Sahara acted as a travel route between North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Instead, the spread of pastoralism in the area can occur through cultural exchanges rather than large population migration. Furthermore, this genome shows significantly lower levels of neandertal DNA compared to non-African populations, further supporting the segregation of this North African group.
The new study provides important new insights into Africa's humidity, which continued around 14,500 to 5,000 years ago. During this time, the Sahara was a green savanna dotted with lakes and rivers, creating conditions favorable for the development of human settlements and pastoralism. As the climate changed and the region became more arid, the Sahara transformed into the vast desert we see today. Due to the current harsh conditions, DNA conservation in this region is rare, and this ancient DNA study is particularly valuable.
Genomic analysis shows that individuals in the Takalkori rock shelter have reached a North African lineage, separated from the sub-Saharan African population, at the same time that modern humans began migrating from Africa about 50,000 years ago.
This lineage remains isolated and exhibits long-term genetic continuity in North Africa throughout the late ice age. This lineage no longer exists in its pure form, but it remains an important part of the genetic makeup of modern North African peoples, which emphasize their distinct ancestors.
North Africa remained genetically isolated
This study also shows that these ancient individuals are closely associated with foraging 15,000 years ago in Moroccan Tafort Caves, in relation to the Iberomaur stone tool tradition ahead of the humid African era.
Both groups are equally far from sub-Saharan African groups, and even if the Sahara was green and habitable, genetic exchange between North Africa and sub-Saharan populations remained limited, reducing previous assumptions about the current widespread contact.
The study also sheds light on Neanderthal ancestors, indicating that Takarkolians have 10 times less Neanderthal DNA than non-Africans, but more than modern sub-Saharan Africans. “Our findings suggest that early North African populations are largely isolated, but received traces of neanderthal DNA due to gene flows from outside of Africa,” says Johannes Kraus, senior author of the Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology at the Max Planck Institute.
The spread of idyllicism in the green Sahara
“Our work challenges previous assumptions about North Africa's population history and highlights the existence of deep-rooted, long-term genetic lines,” says Nada Salem of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. “The findings reveal how idyllicism spreads perhaps throughout the green Sahara, not through large-scale migration, but through cultural exchanges.”
“This study highlights the importance of ancient DNA for reconstructing human history in areas like central North Africa, and provides independent support for archaeological hypotheses.” “By shedding light on the deep Sahara past, we aim to enhance knowledge of human migration, adaptation, and cultural evolution in this important region,” added Savino di Lernia, a senior author at the University of Sapienza in Rome.
See: “The ancient DNA of the green Sahara reveals ancestral North African lineages.” Nada Salem, Marieke S. van de Loosdrecht, Arev Pelin Sümer, Stefania Vai, Alexander Hübner, Benjamin Peter, Raffaela A. Bianco, Martina Lari, Alessandra Modi, Mohamedra Modi, Mohamedra Mohame Abdeljalil Bouzouggar, Mary Anne Tafuri, Giorgio Manzi, Rocco Rotunno, Kay Prüfer, Harald Ringbauer, David Caramelli, Savino di Lernia, Johannes Kraus, April 2, 2025, Nature.
doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08793-7
