The First-Ever Whole Genome of an Ancient Egyptian Reveals What Life Was Like 4,800 Years Ago

Learn about the first whole genome from Ancient Egypt, which has shed light on the life and ancestry of a potter who lived during a period of great change.

By Jack Knudson
Jul 18, 2025 10:00 PMJul 22, 2025 8:42 PM
Egyptian pottery
(Image Credit: SRStudio/Shutterstock)

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What was it like to live in ancient Egypt during an era of sweeping change? Although we can’t put ourselves in the shoes of ancient Egyptians, we at least know how one of them may have lived now that a whole genome from ancient Egypt has been sequenced for the first time. 

A study recently published in Nature details the groundbreaking genetic advancement, and it’s all thanks to one man who lived around 4,500 to 4,800 years ago, when Egypt was in the midst of a transition from the Early Dynastic Period to the Old Kingdom. The genome of this unnamed individual — who worked a strenuous job as a potter — has singlehandedly granted researchers a broader perspective on ancient Egyptian identity. 

Unraveling Ancient Egyptian DNA

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