The findings, published Jan. 22 in Nature, represent the first ancient DNA from West or Central Africa, and some of the oldest DNA recovered from an African tropical context.

An international team led by Harvard Medical School scientists has produced the first genome-wide ancient human DNA sequences from west and central Africa.

This is believed to be the first map of Africa, as a continent. “Africa” was originally a Roman term for the region of modern Tunisia and the western portion of Libya.

Map of human genetic history: An ancient mystery answered, maybe. By Pearl Duncan ... Mandenka of West Africa and Mbuti Pgymy of Central Africa mixing with Middle Eastern traders in my DNA.

DANIEL: So in early 2024, she and her colleagues began the work of unearthing Kansala, which allowed them to sketch out a map of the site, nearly 150 acres. CANOS-DONNAY: Which is absolutely enormous.