At a glance
- When
- the Christian period of medieval Nubia, about 650 to 1000 CE
- Where
- the Nile valley of present-day northern Sudan
- Entries in our catalogue
- 73 (56 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 1
What ancient DNA shows
A 2021 study in Nature Communications sequenced dozens of individuals from two Christian period cemeteries at Kulubnarti. It found that they carried a mixture of ancestry related to West Eurasians, of the kind found in ancient and present-day Egypt and the Levant, and ancestry related to present-day Nilotic peoples such as the Dinka, with the West Eurasian related part the larger of the two.
The two cemeteries have been thought to reflect different social standing, but the study found that the people buried in them belonged to one population, and it identified close relatives among them. The authors linked the West Eurasian related ancestry to long contact along the Nile with Egypt and the Near East.
Their genetic legacy today
Present-day Nubians and other peoples of northern Sudan carry a similar combination of West Eurasian related and Nilotic related ancestry, which reflects the Nile valley's role as a corridor between North and East Africa.
Ancient Nubians samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 73 entries whose culture label names the Ancient Nubians. 56 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 73 dated entries fall between 773 CE and 850 CE, with a median of 838 CE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Sudan | 73 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Christian Nubian (Sudan) | 67 |
| Christian Period Kulubnarti (Sudan; Nilotic-Shifted Outlier) | 1 |
| Christian Period Kulubnarti (Sudan) | 1 |
| Medieval Nubian | 1 |
| Sudan Kulubnarti R Christian Period | 1 |
| Sudan Kulubnarti R Christian Period Nilotic-Shifted Outlier | 1 |
Measured from the live catalogue on 2026-10-17. Dates are those recorded for each entry; the archaeological dates of the culture are given above. See our data sources for where the samples come from.
Compare your DNA with the Ancient Nubians
To see how close you sit to Ancient Nubians samples, you need your DNA as G25 coordinates. Download your raw data file from your testing company, convert it, and MYDNATLAS compares your coordinates with these entries and the rest of the catalogue, period by period, in its closest population and mixture tools.
- Download your raw DNA file: step by step for each testing company.
- Upload it from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or FamilyTreeDNA, or another supported provider.
- Explore the results with the period by period breakdown and closest populations.
Start free: browse the Population Encyclopedia. The Population Encyclopedia is free to browse with a free account; analysing your own DNA needs a paid plan.
Questions
How many Ancient Nubians samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 73 entries labelled as Ancient Nubians, of which 56 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Ancient Nubians samples found?
They come from 1 country, most often Sudan. Half of the dated entries fall between 773 CE and 850 CE.
Were the medieval Nubians related to the ancient Egyptians?
Partly. The medieval Nubians of Kulubnarti carried West Eurasian related ancestry similar to that of ancient and present-day Egyptians, mixed with Nilotic related ancestry from further south, so they were connected to Egypt but distinct from it.