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Genomic history of Northwestern Africa, since the Iron Age
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Organismal Biology, Human Evolution. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Biology Education Centre. (Jakobsson Lab)
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 40 credits / 60 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

Northwestern Africa has long served as a geographic and cultural link between Africa, Europe and the Near East, yet its ancient population history remains underrepresented in genomic research. This is partly due to poor DNA preservation in warm and humid climates, which limits the recovery of authentic ancient DNA (aDNA). In this thesis, ancient genomic data from human remains excavated from 12 archaeological sites in present-day Morocco were analysed to investigate population structure, genetic continuity, and admixture across approximately 2500-626 years before present. The dataset spans several major historical periods, including the Iron Age, Phoenician/Punic expansion, Roman influence and the Arab-Islamic expansion. Population genetic analysis showed that the individuals cluster within a broad North African-Mediterranean genetic space, with affinities to ancient North African, Iberian and Levantine-related reference groups. Principal component analysis, ADMIXTURE and f statistics suggest that between approximately 2500 and 626 years ago, the ancient Northwestern African gene pool was composed of several Mediterranean genetic ancestries, with significantly higher Iberian-associated affinities than broadly contemporary populations from present-day Tunisia, located further east. Several examples of within-site genetic heterogeneity reflect admixture of different genetic ancestries. This supports the interpretation of ancient Morocco as a dynamic region shaped by Mediterranean and trans-Saharan connectivity, rather than genetic isolation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 56
National Category
Evolutionary Biology Natural Sciences Biological Sciences Bioinformatics (Computational Biology) Genetics and Genomics Evolution and Developmental Genetics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-592973OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-592973DiVA, id: diva2:2081254
Educational program
Master Programme in Biology
Presentation
2026-06-02, Zootissalen, Villavägen 9, Uppsala, 14:30 (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
Note

This thesis needs to remain confidential as it has unpublished data that will later be used in a article. 

This also accounts for the abstract that needs to remain confidential too and can not be published on DiVA yet. 

Available from: 2026-07-02 Created: 2026-06-29 Last updated: 2026-07-02Bibliographically approved

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populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning(106 kB)76 downloads
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The full text will be freely available from 2030-06-30 12:45
Available from 2030-06-30 12:45

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Olsson, Anna Louise
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