Ancient Mediterranean Voyages: Genetic Evidence of Trans-Mediterranean Migration 8,500 Years Ago
2025-03-21
A new genomic study reveals that Stone Age hunter-gatherers living in present-day Tunisia and Algeria 8,500 years ago had partial ancestry from Europe. This is the first direct evidence of trans-Mediterranean seafaring during that era, suggesting these hunter-gatherers may have island-hopped across the sea in wooden canoes, guided by sight. This research fills a significant gap in our understanding of prehistory in North Africa and challenges previous assumptions about early human seafaring capabilities.