A new study reveals that DNA obtained from an ancient Phoenician determined that this man possessed European ancestry. This also marks the first sequencing of the genome of a 2,500 year old Phoenician that was buried in North Africa, known as "The Young man of Byrsa".

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This new study was carried out by researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand where they have taken DNA from the remains from inside of a sarcophagus in Carthage, just outside of Tunis, which is also the Tunisian capital. Carthage is also considered to be the center of the Phoenician civilization.

New analysis suggests that this man is also part of a rare haplogroup originating from Europe, which is a genetic group that has a common ancestor, which indicates that this ancient man's ancestry can be traced back to the coastal areas of the North Mediterranean, more specifically on the Iberian Peninsula.

According to lead author of the study, Lisa Matisoo-Smith from the University of Otago, these new findings are considered to be the earliest evidence of a European haplogroup in North Africa known as U5b2c1, where they are estimated to arrive in Europe around at least later into 6th century B.C.E.

Matisoo-Smith explains that this U5b2c1 is also considered to be the most ancient haplogroups in Europe that are linked to hunter gatherer groups there. Today, it is extremely rare to find this lineage in modern human populations, and if ever found in Europe, they make up only less than one percent of the population.

Apparently, the genetic composition of The Young man of Byrsa is almost similar to the sequence of the modern day Portuguese man.

Phoenicians were always thought to originate from a region near Lebanon, as their influence spans the Mediterranean region and the Iberian Peninsula, most notably, the cities of Malaga and Cadiz in Spain were established by Phoenicians.

Analysis from DNA taken from 47 individuals from Lebanon revealed that none of them possessed U5b2c1 lineage which has been linked back to two ancient hunter gatherers that were extracted from archaeological sites in northwestern regions of Spain.

Researchers say that farming peoples from eastern Europe replaced these hunter gatherers where their lineage lasted longer in the southern Mediterranean and Iberian Peninsula, including some islands that were transported vie Carthage in North Africa courtesy of Phoenician and Punic trade connections.

This new study is published in the journal, PLOS ONE.

Tagsphoenicians, ancient phoenician man, DNA phoenician man, carthage, young man of byrsa, european haplogroup