The DNA of newly discovered mummies could reshape the family tree of humanity. The lost lineage found in the Sahara Desert possesses a genetic structure distinct from present-day humans and their historical ancestors. Scientists claim that this unique human lineage no longer exists in its original form in the modern world.

The shocking DNA findings from two mummies unearthed in North Africa may rewrite the family tree of humanity. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Germany found that these ancient mummies discovered in present-day Libya carried the DNA of an unknown human population from 7,000 years ago.

A DISTINCT AND UNIQUE GENETIC STRUCTURE The lost group in the Sahara Desert had a genetic structure that was markedly different from what scientists had hoped to find in Africa. Between 5,000 and 14,500 years ago, this desert region was a lush and fertile area known as the Green Sahara.

COMPLETELY ISOLATED This led scientists to believe that the ancient humans in this region may have interacted more with other tribes from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. However, it appears that this lost group was entirely isolated from other human communities migrating into the Green Sahara.

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The DNA of the newly discovered mummies has less Neanderthal DNA compared to ancient humans living outside Africa during that time. This ratio is much lower than the percentage found in 1-2% of Middle Eastern farmers during that period. This proves the existence of a genetic lineage that was deeply rooted and isolated for a long time. The skeletons were found buried in the Takarkori rock shelter in southwest Libya and belonged to two women. Researchers emphasized that this unique human lineage no longer exists in its original form in the modern world. The DNA of the newly discovered mummies is just a piece of a larger genetic puzzle of modern humans.

FORAGER GROUP FROM 15,000 YEARS AGO Instead of having a genetic structure similar to modern populations in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, these women had close genetic ties to a forager group that lived 15,000 years ago. Researchers speculate that these foragers lived in caves in present-day Morocco during the last Ice Age. Both the group from the Ice Age and the newly discovered mummies in the Green Sahara had a DNA structure distinct from Sub-Saharan Africans on the continent, proving that these two populations remained relatively separate.