A response to the article: “Punic people were genetically diverse with almost no levantine ancestors”
Levant
Study Information
Abstract
This paper critically responds to the *Nature* (2025) article on Punic genetic ancestry, based on ancient DNA from sites like Motya and Carthage. While the genetic analysis is technically robust, its historical conclusions are undermined by major methodological flaws. The dataset focuses on individuals post-600 BC, excluding earlier Phoenician phases due to cremation, which prevents DNA recovery. As a result, Levantine ancestry is likely underrepresented. The small sample size – about 200 individuals – is negligible compared to the vast Punic population. Furthermore, the idea of a uniform “Phoenician DNA” is flawed, as Levantine populations were genetically mixed during both the Bronze and Iron Ages. The article’s claim of minimal Levantine ancestry is therefore misleading.
G25 Coordinates 113 samples
| # | Sample Name | G25 Coordinates | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunisia_Punic:I35325 | 0.101303,0.171624,-0.007542,-0.073967,0.031390,-0.... |
|
| 2 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I7265 | 0.099026,0.133034,-0.037712,-0.062016,-0.023697,-0... |
|
| 3 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I7261 | 0.069432,0.155376,0.000377,-0.063631,0.057549,-0.0... |
|
| 4 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I4800 | 0.091058,0.149283,0.004148,-0.062016,0.024004,-0.0... |
|
| 5 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I4798 | 0.108132,0.152329,-0.011691,-0.070091,0.025851,-0.... |
|
| 6 | Spain_Punic_Late:I26931 | 0.094473,0.150298,0.009428,-0.046835,0.039700,-0.0... |
|
| 7 | Tunisia_Punic:I28504 | 0.099026,0.164516,-0.023004,-0.063631,0.005847,-0.... |
|
| 8 | Italy_Sicily_IA_oEurope:I24674 | 0.136588,0.144205,0.044500,0.023579,0.048624,0.008... |
|
| 9 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I24557 | 0.060326,0.153345,-0.017348,-0.064600,0.022158,-0.... |
|
| 10 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I24671 | 0.124067,0.146236,0.028284,-0.008075,0.029236,0.00... |
|
| 11 | Israel_Phoenician:I22260 | 0.083091,0.143190,-0.052797,-0.088502,-0.004001,-0... |
|
| 12 | Unknown_Punic:I24031 | 0.051220,0.152329,0.003017,-0.070091,0.043700,-0.0... |
|
| 13 | Unknown_Punic:I24033 | 0.061464,0.140143,-0.007165,-0.058140,0.037545,-0.... |
|
| 14 | Unknown_Punic:I24036 | -0.086506,0.140143,0.006411,-0.079458,0.038161,-0.... |
|
| 15 | Unknown_Punic:I24039 | 0.023903,0.154360,0.002640,-0.074936,0.043085,-0.0... |
|
| 16 | Unknown_Punic:I24040 | 0.092197,0.167562,0.006034,-0.044574,0.035083,-0.0... |
|
| 17 | Tunisia_Punic:I24193 | 0.119514,0.143190,0.023759,-0.028424,0.026466,-0.0... |
|
| 18 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Late:I21197 | 0.110408,0.159438,-0.019987,-0.076228,0.022773,-0.... |
|
| 19 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I21851 | 0.113823,0.144205,-0.002263,-0.058140,0.022158,-0.... |
|
| 20 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I21850 | 0.055773,0.156392,0.000377,-0.066861,0.044931,-0.0... |
|
| 21 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Late:I21857 | 0.056912,0.141159,0.007542,-0.071706,0.041546,-0.0... |
|
| 22 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Roman:I21859 | 0.129758,0.148267,0.061848,0.021641,0.059396,-0.00... |
|
| 23 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Late_oLevant:I22119 | 0.085367,0.139128,-0.052420,-0.096254,-0.012925,-0... |
|
| 24 | Italy_Sicily_MBA:I22238 | 0.114961,0.173656,0.009051,-0.085595,0.058165,-0.0... |
|
| 25 | Tunisia_Punic:I35336 | 0.079676,0.145221,-0.011314,-0.051034,0.025235,-0.... |
|
| 26 | Spain_Punic_Late:I18203 | 0.108132,0.143190,-0.010936,-0.058786,0.037853,-0.... |
|
| 27 | Spain_Punic_Late_oAfrica:I18193 | -0.083091,0.121864,-0.015839,-0.093024,0.050163,-0... |
|
| 28 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Roman:I12846 | 0.092197,0.147252,0.014331,-0.044897,0.032929,-0.0... |
|
| 29 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I12847 | 0.092197,0.152329,0.016216,-0.048773,0.021235,-0.0... |
|
| 30 | Israel_Phoenician:I11794 | 0.093335,0.148267,-0.071653,-0.101422,-0.027697,-0... |
|
| 31 | Tunisia_Punic:I35339 | 0.092197,0.153345,0.003771,-0.055556,0.039700,-0.0... |
|
| 32 | Tunisia_Punic:I35327 | 0.110408,0.159438,-0.007165,-0.053618,0.034160,-0.... |
|
| 33 | Tunisia_Punic:I28502 | 0.099026,0.151314,-0.006411,-0.048127,0.021850,-0.... |
|
| 34 | Spain_Punic:I26932 | 0.095611,0.155376,-0.004903,-0.068153,0.013849,-0.... |
|
| 35 | Spain_Punic:I26842 | 0.110408,0.157407,0.010182,-0.043605,0.023389,-0.0... |
|
| 36 | Spain_Punic_Late:I26915 | 0.110408,0.159438,-0.013953,-0.067184,0.018465,-0.... |
|
| 37 | Spain_Punic_oLNBA:I27618 | 0.130897,0.162485,0.067127,0.004522,0.064935,-0.00... |
|
| 38 | Spain_Punic_o1:I27619 | 0.077400,0.152329,0.028284,-0.032300,0.042469,-0.0... |
|
| 39 | Spain_Punic_oLNBA:I27620 | 0.126344,0.142174,0.056191,0.020995,0.056318,0.000... |
|
| 40 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I24675 | 0.104717,0.148267,-0.016593,-0.066215,0.034776,-0.... |
|
| 41 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I24678 | 0.111547,0.147252,0.001886,-0.046189,0.034468,-0.0... |
|
| 42 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I24679 | 0.119514,0.149283,-0.011314,-0.068476,0.012310,-0.... |
|
| 43 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I24680 | 0.077400,0.145221,-0.009051,-0.053295,0.011387,-0.... |
|
| 44 | Unknown_Punic:I24044 | 0.075123,0.169593,0.004525,-0.058140,0.044316,-0.0... |
|
| 45 | Unknown_Punic:I24049 | 0.102441,0.148267,-0.003394,-0.054910,0.023389,-0.... |
|
| 46 | Tunisia_Punic_Africa:I24208 | 0.035285,0.152329,0.009051,-0.080427,0.039392,-0.0... |
|
| 47 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I24554 | 0.063741,0.144205,-0.060339,-0.097546,-0.002154,-0... |
|
| 48 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I24558 | 0.100164,0.155376,-0.050157,-0.075582,-0.006463,-0... |
|
| 49 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22118 | 0.105855,0.153345,0.029038,-0.020026,0.034776,-0.0... |
|
| 50 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22122 | 0.110408,0.153345,0.000377,-0.053941,0.022466,-0.0... |
|
| 51 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I22235 | 0.100164,0.163500,-0.007920,-0.066861,0.028313,-0.... |
|
| 52 | Italy_Sicily_MBA:I22241 | 0.113823,0.178733,0.011691,-0.061693,0.054164,-0.0... |
|
| 53 | Israel_Phoenician:I22254 | 0.068294,0.152329,-0.073161,-0.116281,-0.012925,-0... |
|
| 54 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I21195 | 0.109270,0.160454,0.007542,-0.029716,0.014156,-0.0... |
|
| 55 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I22095 | 0.109270,0.151314,0.001508,-0.059432,0.039084,-0.0... |
|
| 56 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22096 | 0.116100,0.156392,0.042992,-0.016796,0.036622,-0.0... |
|
| 57 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Roman_oNAfrica:I22113 | 0.009106,0.135065,-0.007542,-0.067184,0.024004,-0.... |
|
| 58 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22115 | 0.114961,0.155376,0.026776,-0.036499,0.038776,-0.0... |
|
| 59 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22117 | 0.080814,0.148267,-0.004903,-0.057494,0.008617,-0.... |
|
| 60 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Late:I12848 | 0.112685,0.163500,0.007920,-0.056202,0.018773,-0.0... |
|
| 61 | Tunisia_Punic_oAfrican:I31735 | 0.007968,0.146236,-0.001886,-0.057171,0.027390,-0.... |
|
| 62 | Tunisia_Punic:I35343 | 0.099026,0.161469,-0.002640,-0.047158,0.027390,-0.... |
|
| 63 | Tunisia_Punic:I35328 | 0.043253,0.142174,-0.007165,-0.043605,0.022158,-0.... |
|
| 64 | Italy_Sicily_IA_oAfrica:I24673 | 0.025041,0.136081,0.012445,-0.039406,0.028005,-0.0... |
|
| 65 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I24676 | 0.081953,0.148267,0.016970,-0.056202,0.039700,-0.0... |
|
| 66 | Israel_Phoenician:I22252 | 0.075123,0.157407,-0.043746,-0.090763,0.004616,-0.... |
|
| 67 | Tunisia_Punic:I24032 | 0.094473,0.159438,0.006788,-0.073644,0.026774,-0.0... |
|
| 68 | Tunisia_Punic:I24189 | 0.109270,0.156392,0.000000,-0.062985,0.039084,-0.0... |
|
| 69 | Tunisia_Punic:I24192 | 0.094473,0.161469,-0.001508,-0.054910,0.032314,-0.... |
|
| 70 | Tunisia_Punic_oAfricaHigh:I24205 | -0.028456,0.131003,-0.008297,-0.074290,0.034468,-0... |
|
| 71 | Tunisia_Punic_oAfrica:I24215 | 0.025041,0.147252,0.008297,-0.051680,0.030159,-0.0... |
|
| 72 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Late:I24555 | 0.109270,0.141159,0.037335,-0.027778,0.034776,-0.0... |
|
| 73 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I21853 | 0.114961,0.153345,0.004903,-0.055556,0.017234,-0.0... |
|
| 74 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Late:I21855 | 0.129758,0.158423,0.058077,-0.018411,0.047086,-0.0... |
|
| 75 | Italy_Sardinia_Roman_oEurope:I22112 | 0.125205,0.147252,0.054305,0.020026,0.047701,0.000... |
|
| 76 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Roman:I22125 | 0.126344,0.172640,0.037712,-0.049419,0.078168,-0.0... |
|
| 77 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I22236 | 0.079676,0.148267,0.006788,-0.043928,0.044931,-0.0... |
|
| 78 | Spain_Punic_o.3rd.degree.relative.cluster:I18199 | 0.104717,0.148267,-0.002640,-0.062985,0.026159,-0.... |
|
| 79 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I12664 | 0.095611,0.149283,0.002640,-0.046189,0.026466,-0.0... |
|
| 80 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I12849 | 0.077400,0.132019,-0.053928,-0.059432,-0.013541,-0... |
|
| 81 | Unknown_Punic:I8577 | 0.136588,0.143190,0.054682,0.031654,0.051086,0.006... |
|
| 82 | Unknown_Punic:I8135 | 0.126344,0.148267,0.059208,0.013889,0.067397,0.007... |
|
| 83 | Tunisia_Punic:I35338 | 0.097888,0.139128,-0.004903,-0.058786,0.036007,-0.... |
|
| 84 | Tunisia_Punic:I35287 | 0.109270,0.154360,-0.009805,-0.043605,0.039700,-0.... |
|
| 85 | Spain_Punic:I27602 | 0.070570,0.146236,0.007542,-0.046512,0.034468,-0.0... |
|
| 86 | Spain_Punic:I27613 | 0.108132,0.155376,0.007542,-0.030685,0.030467,-0.0... |
|
| 87 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I24556 | 0.109270,0.156392,-0.016593,-0.059755,0.027390,-0.... |
|
| 88 | Italy_Sicily_LateAntiquity:I24560 | 0.088782,0.143190,-0.058831,-0.069768,-0.033237,-0... |
|
| 89 | Italy_Sicily_IA_oEurope:I24672 | 0.121791,0.147252,0.042615,-0.002261,0.048009,0.00... |
|
| 90 | Unknown_Punic:I24041 | 0.113823,0.156392,0.011691,-0.051357,0.032006,-0.0... |
|
| 91 | Unknown_Punic:I24045 | 0.105855,0.151314,0.030924,-0.032946,0.051702,-0.0... |
|
| 92 | Tunisia_Punic:I24047 | 0.110408,0.166547,0.016216,-0.052003,0.022466,-0.0... |
|
| 93 | Unknown_Punic:I24048 | 0.102441,0.150298,0.017725,-0.031977,0.036930,-0.0... |
|
| 94 | Tunisia_Punic:I24194 | 0.105855,0.147252,-0.008297,-0.063954,0.021542,-0.... |
|
| 95 | Tunisia_Punic:I24196 | 0.097888,0.151314,-0.012445,-0.059432,0.011079,-0.... |
|
| 96 | Tunisia_Punic_oAfricaHigh:I24206 | -0.078538,0.131003,-0.017725,-0.072029,0.027697,-0... |
|
| 97 | Tunisia_Punic:I24213 | 0.116100,0.153345,0.024136,-0.051034,0.042777,-0.0... |
|
| 98 | Tunisia_Punic:I24494 | 0.109270,0.156392,0.031301,-0.035530,0.041238,-0.0... |
|
| 99 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Late_oEurope:I22114 | 0.133173,0.139128,0.066750,0.044574,0.050471,0.021... |
|
| 100 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Early:I22121 | 0.135449,0.151314,0.043369,-0.004522,0.053548,-0.0... |
|
| 101 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I22232 | 0.066017,0.146236,0.013576,-0.068476,0.034160,-0.0... |
|
| 102 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I21856 | 0.077400,0.143190,-0.056945,-0.093347,-0.011079,-0... |
|
| 103 | Italy_Sicily_Roman:I21858 | 0.055773,0.154360,0.014331,-0.061693,0.043700,-0.0... |
|
| 104 | Italy_Sardinia_Roman:I21964 | 0.114961,0.153345,0.046386,-0.016473,0.051702,-0.0... |
|
| 105 | Italy_Sardinia_Punic_Late_oNAfrica:I21966 | 0.050082,0.145221,-0.010936,-0.058140,0.045547,-0.... |
|
| 106 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I22000 | 0.037562,0.140143,-0.026776,-0.071706,-0.009540,-0... |
|
| 107 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Possible:I22001 | 0.004553,0.142174,-0.024513,-0.073644,-0.002462,-0... |
|
| 108 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I4799 | 0.124067,0.162485,0.020742,-0.040375,0.037853,-0.0... |
|
| 109 | Spain_Punic_o.3rd.degree.relative.cluster_alt:I18201 | 0.106994,0.154360,-0.020365,-0.054264,0.023697,-0.... |
|
| 110 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Roman:I12665 | 0.088782,0.154360,-0.060339,-0.087533,-0.017542,-0... |
|
| 111 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Early:I12666 | 0.129758,0.168578,0.004148,-0.061047,0.031083,-0.0... |
|
| 112 | Italy_Sicily_Punic_Roman:I12844 | 0.070570,0.155376,-0.000754,-0.052649,0.018157,-0.... |
|
| 113 | Algeria_IA:I12433 | -0.116100,0.126941,0.014708,-0.075582,0.022466,-0.... |