Skeleton found in pot is first ancient Egyptian to undergo whole genome analysis | Genetics
The man whose bones have been formed over the age of hard work have become more than 4,500 years ago, the first ancient Egyptian to enjoy reading the entire genetic code and analyzed by scientists.
The skeleton of the man, who lived at the dawn of the era of the pyramids, was recovered in 1902 of the chopped pottery bowl in a rock grave in Nuwayrat165 miles south of Cairo, and has been held in a museum since then.
Its DNA is noticeably preserved in view of its age and the hot climate, which quickly degrades biological materials. Scientists suspect that the extraordinary nature of burial may have helped DNA survive in the past four years.
“It is interesting to be able to get genomics from this place and time,” said Pontus Sculponda, who leads the old genome laboratory at the Francis Kreik Institute in London. “He is only one individual, but it provides a first look at an early Egyptian origin in the ancient kingdom.”
The skeleton of the Liverpool Institute was donated archeology It was later transferred to the International City Museum. There he survived the bombings during the raid that destroyed almost all other human remains in the group.
According to the radioactive carbon dating, the man lived a few centuries after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, a decisive time to move between the early family period and the ancient kingdom, which spanned the third to the sixth breeds. The ancient kingdom, also known as the era of the pyramids, was distinguished by great progress, including building the first step pyramid Stagnation.
DNA founded from one of the man’s teeth that he suffers from dark skin, eyes brown and poetry, and the origin of the Neolithic period in North Africa mixed with a genetic contribution of 20 % of Fertile crescent The region in the Middle East. Support supports archaeological evidence for ancient trade between the two regions.
The bones of the man shed more light on his story. In the middle of age, perhaps in his sixties, he was old while he was full of arthritis. The signs indicate that it spent long periods sitting on solid ground with its legs and arms for a while and heading down. His right foot revealed unusual signs of wear.
After studying the paintings of the old Egyptian workers, researchers suspected that it may have been a Potter or a similar literal. The pumper wheel was introduced to Egypt from the fertile crescent in about 2500BC and often stable with one foot. But the high degree burial, which occurred before Egypt adopted artificial embalming, was unusual for such a factor.
Joel Erch, a professor of anthropology and archaeology at the University of Liverpool John Morris, said about all the professions that the team reviewed, the signs of bones were more consistent with the man being a Potter, but he may have weaved baskets or doing another work on the ground.
The Irish said: “It is interesting that the man was found in a bowl. In itself, it was strange.
Skoglund said work, It was published in natureHighlighting that the graves that are secured may still be well preserved to achieve large amounts of DNA.
The team is now planning to examine more skeletons in British groups to paint a complete picture of the genetic history of the Egyptians. He said: “There will be more individuals who can get the DNA from that, and we can use this to build an ancient general genetic record for ancient Egypt.”
