Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines

Sci Adv. 2019 Jul 3;5(7):eaax0061. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0061. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Abstract

The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as "Philistine" during the Iron Age, underwent a marked cultural change between the Late Bronze and the early Iron Age. It has been long debated whether this change was driven by a substantial movement of people, possibly linked to a larger migration of the so-called "Sea Peoples." Here, we report genome-wide data of 10 Bronze and Iron Age individuals from Ashkelon. We find that the early Iron Age population was genetically distinct due to a European-related admixture. This genetic signal is no longer detectible in the later Iron Age population. Our results support that a migration event occurred during the Bronze to Iron Age transition in Ashkelon but did not leave a long-lasting genetic signature.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Ancient*
  • Genetics, Population*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • History, Ancient
  • Human Migration*
  • Humans
  • White People / history
  • White People / legislation & jurisprudence*

Substances

  • DNA, Ancient