Ancient DNA from Kenya
115 ancient people from Kenya have had their genome published, from 2,500 BC to AD 1877. Here they are on a map and period by period, with their archaeological cultures and haplogroups.
Main archaeological groups: Kenya Medieval Swahili (48), Kenya Swahili (22), Kenya PastoralN (17), Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan (5), Kenya IA Pastoral (3).
Most frequent Y-DNA lines: E1b (29), J1a (8), A1b (4), J1 (3), B2b (2), CT (2).
Most frequent mtDNA lines: L0a (18), L2a (10), L3e (9), L3b (7), L4b (7), L3d (6).
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Period by period
3,000 to 1,000 BC (12 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500 BC | Kenya Kansyore | White Rock Point | B2b1a1~ | L2a4 |
| 2,500 BC | Kenya Kansyore | White Rock Point | L0a2 | |
| 2,250 BC | Kenya PastoralN Nderit | Kokurmatakore Cairn | E1b1b1a1a1c1a | L3a2a |
| 2,004 BC | Kenya EPN | Prette John's Gully | E | K1a |
| 1,964 BC | Kenya EPN | Prette John's Gully | L3f1b | |
| 1,937 BC | Kenya LSA Kansyore | Kakapel | B2b1a1~ | L3i1 |
| 1,586 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Lukenya Hill | ||
| 1,549 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Lukenya Hill | E1b1b1b2b | |
| 1,525 BC | Kenya LSA Kansyore | Nyarindi Rockshelter | E | |
| 1,512 BC | Kenya LSA Kansyore | Nyarindi Rockshelter | ||
| 1,291 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Cole's Burial | E1b1b1a1a1 | L3i2 |
| 1,017 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Kisima Farm A5 | E1b1b1b2b | M1a1 |
1,000 BC to AD 1 (15 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 831 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Kisima Farm A5 | M1a1f | |
| 650 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naishi Cave | E1b1b1b2b | L3x1a |
| 643 BC | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan | Rigo Cave | E1b1b1b2b2a1 | L3f |
| 548 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naishi Cave | A1b1b2b | L0a2d |
| 543 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Keringet Cave | A1b1b2b | L4b2a1 |
| 502 BC | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan-o | Rigo Cave | E1b1b1b2b2 | M32'56 |
| 442 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naivasha Burial Ground | L4b2a2 | |
| 437 BC | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan | Rigo Cave | E1b1b1b2b2a1 | L4b2a2c |
| 320 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Hyrax Hill | E1b1b1b2b | |
| 290 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naivasha Burial Ground | A1b1b2b | M1a1b |
| 286 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naivasha Burial Ground | E1b1b1b2b | R |
| 283 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naivasha Burial Ground | A1b1b2b | L4a1 |
| 279 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Naivasha Burial Ground | E1b1b1b2b | L3x1a |
| 75 BC | Kenya PastoralN | Molo Cave | ||
| 19 BC | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan | Njoro River Cave II | L3h1a2a |
AD 1 to 1000 (9 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 164 | Kenya LSA | Jawuoyo Rockshelter | E1b1b1a1b2 | L4b2a2c |
| AD 174 | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan | Egerton Cave | L0a1d | |
| AD 296 | Kenya PastoralN | Ol Kalou | E1b1b1b2b | L3d |
| AD 524 | Kenya PastoralN Elmenteitan | Keringet Cave | K1a | |
| AD 586 | Kenya PastoralN | Molo Cave | E1b1b1b2b2a1 | L3h1a2a1 |
| AD 937 | Kenya IA Pastoral | Ilkek Mounds | E2a~ | L0f2a |
| AD 939 | Kenya IA Pastoral-o | Deloraine Farm | E1b1a1a1a1a3~ | L5b1 |
| AD 941 | Kenya IA Pastoral-o | KFR-C4 | E2a~ | L3h1a1 |
| AD 990 | Kenya IA Pastoral | Kasiole 2 | E1b1b1b2b2 | L3h1a2 |
After AD 1000 (79 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 1142 | Kenya LIA | Kakapel | L2a5 | |
| AD 1150 | Kenya Swahili | Manda | L3d1a1a | |
| AD 1250 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | M30d1 | |
| AD 1271 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1a2a1a2d2b~ | M30d1 |
| AD 1325 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | E1b1b | L0a2a2a |
| AD 1325 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L0a2a2a | |
| AD 1325 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1a2a1a2d2b~ | L0a2a2a |
| AD 1346 | Kenya IA Pastoral | Laikipia District Burial Site | L0a1c1 | |
| AD 1386 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | E1b1b1b2a1a~ | L0d3 |
| AD 1400 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | E1b1b1b2a1a1a1a1f~ | L0a2a2a |
| AD 1400 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L0a1b1a | |
| AD 1425 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L0a2a1a2 | |
| AD 1442 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3a2 | |
| AD 1449 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J | L3d1a |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L0a2 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3b1a1a | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3e3 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3f1b4a1 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili-o | Mtwapa | L3b1a+@16124 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | ||
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | CT | L3e3a |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J | L3b1a1 |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L0a2a2a1 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | ||
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | ||
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L1b1a | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | ||
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L2a1f1 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | ||
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3b1a11 | |
| AD 1450 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | L3e3 | |
| AD 1452 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1a2a1a2d2b~ | L0a2a2a |
| AD 1455 | Kenya Swahili | Manda | L2a1b1 | |
| AD 1469 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | R1a1a | L3b1a1a |
| AD 1475 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1a2a1a2d2b~ | L3d1a1a |
| AD 1476 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1 | L0a1b1a |
| AD 1489 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | R1a1a | L3e1d1 |
| AD 1510 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1a2a1a2d2b~ | L1b1a |
| AD 1510 | Kenya Medieval Swahili | Mtwapa | J1 | L3e3a |
| AD 1522 | Kenya Swahili | Manda | L2d1a |
Excavation sites
- Mtwapa 50, AD 1250 to AD 1740
- Makwasinyi 13, AD 1746 to AD 1877
- Manda 8, AD 1150 to AD 1561
- Naivasha Burial Ground 5, 442 BC to 279 BC
- Kakapel 3, 1,937 BC to AD 1737
- Rigo Cave 3, 643 BC to 437 BC
- Keringet Cave 2, 543 BC to AD 524
- Kisima Farm A5 2, 1,017 BC to 831 BC
- Lukenya Hill 2, 1,586 BC to 1,549 BC
- Molo Cave 2, 75 BC to AD 586
- Naishi Cave 2, 650 BC to 548 BC
- Nyarindi Rockshelter 2, 1,525 BC to 1,512 BC
- Panga ya Saidi 2, AD 1548
- Prette John's Gully 2, 2,004 BC to 1,964 BC
- White Rock Point 2, 2,500 BC
- Bungule 1, AD 1550
- Cole's Burial 1, 1,291 BC
- Deloraine Farm 1, AD 939
- Egerton Cave 1, AD 174
- Emurula Ole Polos Cairns 1, AD 1682
- Faza 1, AD 1723
- Hyrax Hill 1, 320 BC
- Ilkek Mounds 1, AD 937
- Jawuoyo Rockshelter 1, AD 164
- Kasiole 2 1, AD 990
- KFR-C4 1, AD 941
- Kokurmatakore Cairn 1, 2,250 BC
- Laikipia District Burial Site 1, AD 1346
- Njoro River Cave II 1, 19 BC
- Ol Kalou 1, AD 296
Source: Allen Ancient DNA Resource v66 (Mallick et al. 2024), individuals with a date and coordinates; samples the AADR flags as misdated are left out. Group names are those of the original studies. Haplogroups are shown when they could be read from the ancient DNA.