A recent international study, led by Carles Lalueza-Fox, has analyzed 210 genomes from Phoenician and Punic archaeological sites. The research reveals a surprising genetic disconnect between Phoenician cities and Punic populations, despite their shared culture and language. This challenges previous assumptions about Phoenician expansion in the Mediterranean.
Phoenician and Punic Origins
The Phoenician culture originated in the Levant (modern-day Lebanon and Syria), where they developed the first alphabet. By the first millennium BC, they had established a vast maritime trade network, spreading their culture throughout the Mediterranean. Carthage, located in modern Tunisia, became a major Phoenician center by the 6th century BC. Communities associated with Carthage were known as "Punic."
Genetic Findings
Researchers sequenced genomes from human remains found in 14 Phoenician and Punic archaeological sites across the Iberian Peninsula, the Levant, North Africa, and the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Ibiza. The analysis revealed minimal direct genetic contribution from Levantine Phoenicians to Punic populations in the western and central Mediterranean. This suggests that Phoenician culture spread primarily through cultural transmission and assimilation, rather than mass migration.
Implications of the Study
“We observe that the genetic profile of the Punic world was extraordinarily heterogeneous,” said David Reich, a Harvard professor. The study highlights the cosmopolitan nature of the Punic world, with significant North African and Sicilian-Aegean ancestry found in Punic populations. These findings indicate that the mixture of Punics with local populations was fundamental in shaping their genetic makeup and demonstrate the interconnectedness of ancient Mediterranean societies.