Ancient Genetic Traces Rewrite Iberian Prehistory

Madrid, Spain — 25 June 2026

Scientists working in caves across Spain and Portugal have uncovered human DNA more than 2,000 years old, a discovery that researchers say could significantly reshape understanding of prehistoric migration and population patterns in the Iberian Peninsula.

The genetic material—retrieved from sediment rather than bones—was found in multiple cave systems, allowing researchers to identify the presence of ancient individuals who lived during the late Iron Age. According to the research team, the DNA was preserved in microscopic traces left behind by human activity, offering a rare window into populations that left little or no skeletal remains.

Experts say the findings provide new evidence of population continuity and movement across the region, supporting theories of complex cultural and genetic exchanges between early Iberian communities and neighbouring Mediterranean groups. The study also highlights the growing power of sediment DNA analysis, a technique that is rapidly transforming archaeological research by revealing hidden human histories in places where traditional excavation yields limited results.