A new study published in Nature reveals that the spread of Phoenician culture across the Mediterranean was primarily driven by cultural exchange rather than the migration of people carrying Phoenician DNA. The research, led by Harald Ringbauer and colleagues, analyzed DNA from approximately 200 individuals from Phoenician archaeological sites across the Mediterranean.
The study examined remains from sites in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. Surprisingly, individuals from Phoenician outposts showed limited genetic links to ancient Middle Easterners. Instead, the genomes of Punic people often resembled those of ancient inhabitants of Greece and Sicily, indicating a diverse genetic makeup shaped by trade, intermarriage, and population mixing.
These findings suggest that Phoenician culture was adopted by diverse Mediterranean populations through trade and cultural exchange, acting as a "franchise" as suggested by Ringbauer. The study highlights the complex interplay between culture, migration, and genetic ancestry in the ancient world, revealing that the Phoenician expansion was more about cultural transmission and assimilation than mass migration.