The oldest known Egyptian DNA sample offers new insights into the potential ancestry of those who belonged to the enduring civilization.

In a groundbreaking scientific discovery, an international research team has successfully sequenced the first whole ancient Egyptian genome from an individual who lived 4,500 to 4,800 years ago – the oldest DNA sample from Egypt to date.

Researchers have sequenced the genome of an ancient Egyptian who was buried in a pot nearly 5,000 years ago, about the time some of the oldest, and most famous, pyramids were built.