The discovery of fossilised human remains in the Sahara Desert has marked a new era in research on the history of human evolution. Researchers have discovered skeletons dating back 7,000 years that do not belong to any existing lineage. This discovery highlights unknown human lineages that existed in the African continent but went extinct without leaving any traces of their existence.
The fossilised human remains were discovered in the heart of a desert; however, in its prime, the Sahara was home to several communities of humans. This phase of history, popularly known as the Green Sahara, witnessed human migration, hunting, and settlement within territories that remain uninhabited today. The analysis of the DNA has provided new insights into human evolution during this period.
Sahara skeletons provide genetic evidence of an extinct human group
These skeletons have been unearthed from different archaeological locations in the Sahara and can be dated back to about 7,000 years ago. The scientists have analysed the DNA samples of these skeletons in comparison with those of living human beings.
The research “Ancient DNA from the Green Sahara reveals ancestral North African lineage”, published in the journal Nature, gives an analysis of the genetics of these people.
According to the analysis conducted in this paper, it turns out that these ancient people belong to a certain lineage of people that no more existing in today’s world.
What makes this DNA different from that of modern humans
An important feature regarding this particular discovery is that their genetics do not seem to correspond to any of the currently existing populations. Although modern humans are all related, it seems that this group of people had its own distinct genetic profile.
This does not imply that this was a different species altogether; rather, it implies that these people belonged to a lineage that evolved separately from others. With time, this particular lineage dwindled or intermixed with other populations, leaving behind little evidence in our genetic make-up.
Life in the Green Sahara
The Sahara Desert was not always a desert. Roughly 7,000 years ago, it had lakes, plant life, and animal life, which made it a friendly environment to live in.
These ancient humans most likely depended on hunting, gathering, and fishing to survive. The presence of water bodies and fertile land would enable them to form societies.
Nevertheless, due to changes in the climatic conditions of the area, making it dry, these humans had to migrate or adapt, which might have led to a genetic dilution.
Why this discovery matters for human evolution
This discovery is important because it shows the intricacy of the history of humans, which turns out to be more complex than was first thought. Instead of moving in a linear progression, human evolution involved interaction, separation, and even extinction of different populations.
A new lineage means that other lineages could exist but have yet to be discovered. The discovery of this lineage also shows that Africa had many different and organised groups living there long before any written history could be recorded. This information can help determine how people migrated over time.
Sahara DNA study reveals untold story of early human populations
This finding that people living 7,000 years ago in the Sahara possessed unique DNA brings into question many theories regarding human origin. It demonstrates the presence of different groups in ancient Africa that could not survive till nowadays.
What is more important, it makes it clear that the history of the human race has not yet been written completely. Each new piece of evidence helps us discover new facts about our past.
