Overview

• Two peer-reviewed articles in Antiquity published on August 13 report that genomic analyses of remains from 7th-century cemeteries at Updown (Kent) and Worth Matravers (Dorset) reveal each individual carried 20–40 percent West African autosomal ancestry.
• Mitochondrial DNA analyses show northern European maternal heritage while autosomal profiles indicate mixed descent with a probable West African grandparent on the paternal side.
• Researchers link the ancestry signal to long-range Mediterranean contacts, suggesting 6th–7th-century Byzantine trade and reconquest of North Africa enabled movement of people as well as goods.
• Grave goods at Updown—including imported pottery and personal items—and typical local burial practices at both sites demonstrate full social integration of these mixed-ancestry individuals.
• The studies emphasize how high-resolution ancient DNA can uncover individual migration histories but caution that limited sampling precludes assessment of population-wide prevalence.