Scientists have for the first time sequenced the most complete and oldest ancient Egyptian genome ever found—unlocking new secrets from the Old Kingdom.

But while experts now know a fair amount about ancient Egyptian life, they still understand very little about the population’s genetic makeup. Researchers have genomically analyzed three specimens to date,

Scientists have sequenced the oldest known DNA from ancient Egypt. It belonged to a potter who lived 4,500 years ago. This rare genetic snapshot offers new insights into the diverse ancestry of early Egyptians.