At a glance
- When
- the Bronze Age, about 3300 to 1200 BCE
- Where
- the southern Levant: today's Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and southern Syria
- Entries in our catalogue
- 115 (88 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 3
What ancient DNA shows
A 2020 study in Cell of Bronze Age individuals from across the southern Levant found that most could be modelled as a mix of the region's earlier Neolithic population and people related to Chalcolithic populations of Iran and the Caucasus, who arrived over the preceding millennia. The Canaanites of different cities were genetically similar to each other.
Earlier work on Bronze Age individuals from Sidon in Lebanon reached a similar result and showed continuity with the later Phoenicians of the same coast.
Their genetic legacy today
Studies estimate that many present-day Levantine populations, including Arabic-speaking groups and Jewish groups, derive a substantial share of their ancestry from Bronze Age Levantine populations like these.
Canaanites samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 115 entries whose culture label names the Canaanites. 88 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 115 dated entries fall between 1,800 BCE and 1,350 BCE, with a median of 1,550 BCE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Israel | 72 |
| Jordan | 30 |
| Lebanon | 13 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Bronze Age Canaanite | 87 |
| Canaanite | 6 |
| Canaanite (Megiddo) | 6 |
| Bronze Age Canaanite (Ashkelon; pre-Philistine) | 4 |
| Late Bronze Age Canaan (Israel) | 4 |
| Bronze Age Canaanite (Israel) | 3 |
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 Canaanites
To see how close you sit to Canaanites 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 Canaanites samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 115 entries labelled as Canaanites, of which 88 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Canaanites samples found?
They come from 3 countries, most often Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. Half of the dated entries fall between 1,800 BCE and 1,350 BCE.
Are modern Levantine people descended from the Canaanites?
In large part, according to ancient DNA. Present-day Lebanese and other Levantine groups carry substantial Bronze Age Levantine ancestry, along with later additions that differ between groups.