Ancient DNA Reveals Phoenicians’ Surprising Ancestry
Phoenician civilization, known for spreading its culture and alphabet across the Mediterranean, has long been a subject of fascination. However, a recent study published in Nature has revealed surprising findings about the ancestry of the Phoenician people.
The Phoenician civilization, which originated more than 3,000 years ago in what is now Lebanon, expanded its influence across the Mediterranean Sea. While the culture thrived in city-states like Carthage in present-day Tunisia, the DNA analysis of around 200 ancient human genomes conducted by population geneticist Harald Ringbauer and his team at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has challenged existing assumptions about Phoenician ancestry.
Contrary to expectations, the study found that individuals from Phoenician outposts in the Mediterranean, also known as Punic people, did not share genetic ancestry with ancient Middle Eastern populations. Instead, their DNA more closely resembled that of ancient inhabitants of Greece and Sicily, with some North African genetic influence dating back to the rise of Carthage after 500 BC.
This unique genetic profile suggests a complex history of migration and cultural exchange along the Mediterranean. The researchers identified related individuals at distant archaeological sites, indicating a network of diverse populations connected by trade routes established by the Phoenician civilization.
The absence of Middle Eastern genetic ancestry in Punic people aligns with the idea that Phoenician culture was characterized by integration and assimilation. Pierre Zalloua, a geneticist at Khalifa University, notes that the Phoenicians were known for settling in new territories and adopting local practices.
The study raises intriguing questions about the adoption of Phoenician culture by diverse Mediterranean populations and the nature of cultural exchange in the ancient world. Ringbauer speculates on the possibility of Phoenician culture acting as a “franchise” that others could adopt, highlighting the need for further research by archaeologists.
Overall, the study sheds new light on the complex genetic history of the Phoenician civilization and challenges previous assumptions about their ancestry. The findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary research in unraveling the mysteries of ancient civilizations.
This article was originally published on April 23, 2025, in Nature magazine and is reproduced here with permission.
