Ancient DNA from remains found in caves on the Greek island of Crete suggests that the Minoan civilization emerged from farmers who settled on Crete thousands of years beforehand. This challenges an early theory, which held that the Minoans — recognized as being one of Europe's first 'high cultures' from their pottery and colourful frescoes — originated from Egyptian refugees.

A team led by George Stamatoyannopoulos at the University of Washington in Seattle analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from teeth and bone samples of 37 individuals who lived on Crete between 4,400 and 3,700 years ago. The authors found 6 mtDNA haplotypes unique to Minoans and 15 that are common in modern and ancient European populations, but none characteristic of present-day African populations. The North African influence on Minoans probably occurred through cultural exchange, the authors say.

Nature Commun. 4, 1871 (2013)