Ancient genomes show that the farming lifestyle in northwestern Africa was ignited by oversea-migrants from Iberia 7,400 years ago

Newswise — An ancestral examination of aged human remains from Morocco in northwest Africa exposed that sustenance creation was initiated by Neolithic migrants from Europe and the Levant and subsequently embraced by indigenous factions. A team of researchers from Sweden, Spain, and Morocco unveils their findings in Nature on June 7th.

Around 7,400 years ago, a shift occurred in northwestern Africa, transitioning from a foraging lifestyle to farming. However, the exact catalyst for this change remained uncertain. Prior research presented conflicting perspectives, with some suggesting that migrating European Neolithic farmers introduced the new way of life to North Africa, while others proposed that indigenous hunter-gatherer communities embraced farming practices.

Professor Mattias Jakobsson, from Uppsala University and the leader of the study, states, "We made a fascinating discovery of a significant population continuity in northwestern Africa, stretching back at least 8,000 years and possibly even further. A group of local foragers had been living in isolation during this period, until approximately seven and a half thousand years ago."

Then something happened.

Following their extended isolation, northwestern Africa experienced the arrival of two distinct ancestral groups within a span of approximately 1000 years. One migration wave followed the northern Mediterranean coast, while the other took a southern route. These influxes of new ancestries brought significant demographic changes to the region.

Dr. Luciana Simoes, the first author of the study from Uppsala University, reveals, "We have identified a foreign ancestry in North Africa, specifically related to the first European Farmers, present in the remains of the earliest Neolithic context dating back approximately 7500 years ago." This finding strongly suggests that migrants from Europe played a significant role in introducing the new agricultural lifestyle to the region.

Dr. Cristina Valdiosera, who co-led the study from the University of Burgos in Spain, explains, "Inspired by the presence and influence of their new neighbors, the local foragers underwent a transformative shift towards an agricultural lifestyle within a relatively short span of a few hundred years. As a result, these two groups, the local foragers and the incoming migrants, coexisted and lived in close proximity for at least another century." This highlights the dynamic interplay and coexistence between the two groups during this transitional period.

“This phenomenon has not been seen in any other part of the world” says Dr. Torsten Günther from Uppsala University

Approximately 6,300 years ago, a distinct genetic ancestry emerged in the human remains, indicating the arrival of migrants from the Levant to the region. This occurrence coincided with the introduction of pastoralism in the area. Subsequently, during the Late Neolithic period, all three ancestral groups— the local foragers, the European migrants, and the Levantine migrants—intermingled and merged together, signifying a blending of genetic lineages and cultural practices.

Dr. Rafael Martínez Sánchez from the University of Córdoba, Spain, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "It is remarkable that the genomic data obtained in this study aligns with the evidence provided by ceramic decoration, supporting the notion of a one-way diffusion from the Iberian coast to the Tingitana Peninsula approximately 7500 years ago." This convergence between genomic findings and archaeological indicators further strengthens our understanding of the cultural and genetic connections between these regions during that period.

Dr. Youssef Bokbot from L'Institut National des Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine in Morocco emphasizes the importance of filling the significant chronological gaps in the Maghreb region. He explains, "By bridging these crucial chronological gaps, we have gained a better understanding of how various subsistence strategies were acquired in this region." This research has contributed to shedding light on the historical development and acquisition of different ways of sustenance in the Maghreb area.