Bronze Age Levantine populations, for example, show similar patterns of mixed North African and Near Eastern ancestry, reflecting the geographic position of the Levant between Africa and Eurasia and the long history of population exchange across this zone.

The Question Of Language And Culture

One of the most important cautions that the researchers and science communicators around this study have emphasized is the distinction between genetic ancestry, cultural identity, and language — three dimensions of human identity that are related but not identical.

NUE001’s genome tells us about his biological ancestry — where his genetic ancestors came from.

It does not tell us what language he spoke, what gods he worshipped, or how he understood his own identity.

Ancient Egyptian is a fascinating language from a linguistic perspective.