Kent, Prehistory to the Dark Ages

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Kent, Prehistory to the Dark Ages

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What's included in Ancient DNA Origins?

  • The Ancient DNA Origins DNA test provides powerful, innovative, and interactive DNA-based tools to help you find your ancient ancestors, trace your prehistorical lineages, and determine your ancient tribal origins.
  • Find out how related you are to the prehistoric people that settled South East England (7500BC-750AD) found at various archeological sites in Kent, England, and outside of it.
  • Maps data: (C) Google Maps 2023
  • Receive a detailed breakdown of your ancient geographical origins, ancient ancestry maps showing where your ancestors lived and traveled, and your exact genetic similarity to each member of your ancient tribe.
  • Compare your results with over 50 worldwide ancient and modern populations.
  • Reach out and reconnect with your 9500-year-old Kentian ancestors who experienced nearly six millennia of changes from constructing Kent’s ‘Stonehenge’ in Iwade with flint tools to building the remarkable Dover Boat from Bronze tools, until Early Medieval England.
  • Explore how the people of Kent changed over the millennia from Kent's Cavern to Eastry – Their story can be your story.
  • Basic test includes 5 people.
  • Advanced test includes 15 people.

About the test

Located in Southeast England, prehistoric Kent was occupied since the Lower Palaeolithic, before the appearance of Anatomically Modern Humans. Indeed, Britain’s oldest humanoid skull was found in Kent, belonging to a Homo heidelbergensis young woman who roamed the valleys of Kent some 400,000 years ago. Clear evidence of settlement by H. sapiens appeared only some 10,000 years ago, but it was not for millennia later that Kent settlers began building megaliths, known as the Kentish Megaliths or Medway Megaliths, along the River Medway. Built before the more famous Stonehenge to the west, the Kentish Megaliths would have been among the largest funerary monuments of their time in Britain. Back then, Britain was mostly forested, and the settlers of Kent hunted and gathered for their survival. This changed in the fifth millennium BC and the transition to agriculture, which saw the slow and steady elimination of forested Briton.

In 2800 BC, the Bell Beakers arrived in Britain, and half a millennia later, Kent entered the Bronze Age, with arrows found in burial sites. The Bell Beakers, who facilitated this transformation, brought not only knowledge of metallurgy but also new styles of art and experience in trade. But what happened to the builders of those megaliths? Did they survive the arrival of the Bell Beakers, or were they replaced? Were they local to Britain, or were they also immigrants? Where did the megalith builders and Bell Beakers come from, and what was their genetic legacy? For a very long time, we could only guess their origin.

This, however, changed in 2018 with the sequencing of ancient genomes from Kent, which allowed studying the origins of the people throughout six millennia for the first time. With the availability of 15 genomes recovered from eleven sites in Kent (Eastry, Folkestone (Dover Hill), Sittingbourne (Highsted), East Kent, Cliffs End Farm, Margetts Pit, Isle of Sheppey, Trottiscliffe, Kent's Cavern in Devon), we can finally tell the story of the men and women of Kent and understand how the arrival of the Bell Beakers changed them.

The test includes 15 settlers of Kent who lived between 7500 and 750 AD and witnessed the transformation to the Neolithic, then to the Bronze Age as well as the arrival of the Bell Beakers, and finally to Early Medieval England after the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons. The test provides a detailed historical, archeological, and paleogenetic background of these builders of Kent. It describes the relationships of the Kent settlers with other ancient Britons and their cultic practices. A detailed profile is available for every Kent settler. Find out now how related you are to the ancient people of Kent.

Why take this test

Up until 2010, reading the DNA of ancient people was a dream. Since then, the DNA of the Neanderthal who lived over 30,000 years ago has been sequenced. After that reading, the DNA of ancient people who lived from 15,000 BC to 1,800 AD all over the world became the main object of paleogenomic research. This forward leap in technology allowed the creation of a new type of DNA tests — tests that do not use modern-day populations as representatives of the ancient past but as people who can also be studied. The Ancient DNA Origins DNA test is the first next-generation DNA test. It is designed solely using the DNA of ancient people throughout history using our novel technologies. With this test, you will receive a precise ancient ethnicity estimate with far greater geographical details than you could imagine. You will make new connections with historical people and places where your ancestors lived, walked, battled, created, and dreamed thousands of years ago. Using the genetic data and evidence from history and archeology, we can revive the past and allow you to take part of this story at the most personal level.

what do you get?

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Reconnect with your ancient ancestors and become a part of their story.

 

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dna matches

 

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Compare your results with other modern people

 

how is it done?

1

Download your DNA data

Simply download your DNA data from the company that genotyped your DNA and upload it here. We accept DNA from 23andme, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, GenebyGene or FamilyTreeDNA (Family Finder), Genographic (Geno 2.0), HomeDNA, and LivingDNA.
Please upload a txt, csv, zip, gz or tgz file.
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2

Choose an ancient DNA Origins Test

We continue to update our tests. If you did not find the culture that you were looking for, check out the upcoming tests. You will get a discount if you pre-order the test now.

3

Choose a payment method

You can pay per test or buy a subscription. With the Diamond subscription, you can order all the tests for less than $15 per test.

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Basic Test
Low resolution test
  • Personalized ancient ancestry report
  • 2-5 Ancient individuals per test
  • Extensive records of the ancient culture
  • 10+ Modern populations
  • Latest scientific knowledge
  • Interactive interface to discover your roots
  • 12 Tests with Emerald subscription
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Advanced Test
High resolution test
  • Personalized ancient ancestry report
  • 15-30 Ancient individuals per test
  • 12 Geographic regions
  • Extensive records of the ancient culture
  • 50+ Modern populations
  • In-depth ancestry analyses
  • Latest scientific knowledge
  • Interactive interface to discover your roots
  • 12 Tests with Amber subscription

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The propriety ancient DNA tests were designed by experienced genetic and archeologist experts from academia and industry. The tests build on Ancient Origins professionals trusted by millions worldwide.

The tests are linked to the Ancient Origins database that offers over 12,000 FREE articles and magazine articles. The website also provides expert lectures, archeological expeditions, and the GPS Origins DNA test.