Medieval DNA reveals transSaharan connections, rapid genetic mixing and leprosy in Islamic Ibiza
Mar 26, 2026
Medieval Ibiza was far from a quiet Mediterranean backwater. New DNA evidence shows that the island was part of a dynamic world linking Europe, North Africa and even the Sahel zone, south of Sahara. An international research team led by the Centre for Palaeogenetics (CPG), a joint venture between St
ockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History, has revealed that its population was remarkably diverse, connected to Europe, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa through trade, migration, and social networks. The study is published in Nature Communications. ...read more read less