Forty years after the first effort to extract mummy DNA, researchers have finally generated a full genome sequence from an ancient Egyptian, who lived when the earliest pyramids were built

The oldest known Egyptian DNA sample, from a man who lived between 4,500 to 4,800 years ago, offers new insights into the potential ancestry of those who belonged to the enduring civilization.

For the first time, scientists have sequenced the full genome of a 4,800-year-old Egyptian man. The DNA reveals North African roots with Mesopotamian links—reshaping our understanding of ancient Egypt.