
<p><em><br>The Maryland Dove docked at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland. This ship is a reconstruction of the Dove, a 17th-century trading vessel that, alongside the passenger ship the Ark, carried colonists to found Maryland in 1634.<strong> </strong>Image credit: Jenn Dorsey, Historic St. Mary&#8217;s City</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout" style="border:1px solid #000; border-collapse:collapse;"><tbody><tr><td>
<h2>Key Takeaways</h2>
<ul><li>By analyzing the DNA of 49 individuals buried in St. Mary’s City, Maryland 300–400 years ago, scientists were able to link 1.3 million 23andMe participants to some of the individuals from Maryland&#8217;s first capital.</li>
<li>For the first time, ancient DNA combined with modern genealogy was used to propose the identities of unknown historical figures, including Maryland’s second governor, Thomas Greene.</li>
<li>The study showed the genetic impact of a documented historical migration, showing a clear genetic link between the original 17th-century Maryland settlers and modern-day populations in Kentucky.</li></ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Nearly four centuries ago, a small group of English and Irish settlers stepped ashore on the southern tip of Maryland and founded a colony they called St. Mary&#8217;s City. Many came seeking religious freedom, others arrived as indentured servants. Over the years, a significant number of these early colonists were buried at the site of the 17th-century Brick Chapel, but their names have since been lost to time.</p>



<p>Now, a new study published in <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00516-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> and co-led by researchers at the 23andMe Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History is helping restore their stories. With the support of Historic St. Mary&#8217;s City, the researchers analyzed the genomes of 49 individuals buried in St. Mary&#8217;s City&#8217;s Chapel Field. By comparing their DNA to more than 11.5 million consenting 23andMe research participants, the team traced where these colonists came from, mapped how their descendants spread across America, and, for the first time, proposed possible identities for three previously unknown individuals, including the colony&#8217;s second governor.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Genetic legacy of St. Mary&#039;s City / Curr. Biol., May 14, 2026 (Vol. 36, Issue 11)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRbf3AkLXtY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-short-lived-colonial-capital">A short lived colonial capital</h2>



<p>Established in 1634, St. Mary&#8217;s City was the founding English settlement in the colony of Maryland. It was envisioned by George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore, as both an expansion of the King&#8217;s realm and a place of religious freedom, particularly for persecuted Catholics. The first settlers departed from the Isle of Wight aboard two ships, the <em>Ark </em>and the <em>Dove </em>in late 1633, and arrived at Maryland&#8217;s southern shore the following year.</p>



<p>Though its role as a capital city was short-lived (the seat of government moved to present-day Annapolis in 1695), St. Mary&#8217;s City left a lasting mark on American history. The Chapel Field cemetery, located at the site of the colony&#8217;s Brick Chapel, served as the primary burial ground for nearly a century. Despite existing written records and the ability of many present-day Americans to trace their ancestry to the historic city, many gaps remain in our knowledge of this founding population.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="733" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-1024x733.png" alt="" class="wp-image-35277" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-1024x733.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-300x215.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-768x550.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-880x630.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction-1180x844.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/brick_chapel_reconstruction.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>2010 image of the exterior of the reconstructed 1667 Brick Chapel at Historic St. Mary&#8217;s City. Image credit: Donald Winter, Historic St. Mary&#8217;s City</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-dna-meets-the-world-s-largest-genetics-database">Ancient DNA meets the world&#8217;s largest genetics database</h2>



<p>Researchers extracted ancient DNA from the bones of individuals buried at the site, then used an identity-by-descent approach to find genetic matches among living 23andMe customers who consented to research.</p>



<p>More than 1.3 million consented research participants share DNA with one or more of the St. Mary&#8217;s individuals. DNA sharing occurred at particularly high rates among participants with ancestry from western England and Wales. Several individuals in the study showed stronger genetic connections to Ireland, lending weight to accounts of Irish settlers among the earliest colonists.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-a-documented-migration-in-dna">Tracking a documented migration in DNA</h2>



<p>One of the study&#8217;s most compelling findings is the detection of a clear genetic signal corresponding to a migration previously known only from historical records. Following the Revolutionary War, many Catholic families from St. Mary&#8217;s County faced economic hardship and growing religious discrimination. This prompted a wave of emigration to Kentucky primarily between 1780 and 1820. These settlers established themselves mainly in what are now Nelson and Washington counties.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When the research team mapped which 23andMe participants shared the closest genetic connections to the St. Mary&#8217;s individuals, they found enrichment around Louisville, Kentucky, highlighting the power of this approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-calvert-family-tree">Expanding the Calvert family tree</h2>



<p>Among the 49 individuals studied, three of the burials were already known: Philip Calvert, the colony&#8217;s fifth governor, his first wife Anne Wolseley Calvert, and an infant, who was confirmed using DNA to be Philip Calvert&#8217;s son, likely from his second marriage. All three were buried in unusual lead coffins beneath the chapel floor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By comparing their DNA to the remaining individuals in the study, the researchers identified three additional members of the extended Calvert family. The team also identified five other family groupings among the burials, including one that spanned three generations. Given the extraordinarily high mortality rates of the early colonial period, finding a multigenerational family within a single cemetery was a notable finding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-approach-to-identifying-the-nameless-dead">A new approach to identifying the nameless dead</h2>



<p>Perhaps the most novel aspect of the study is what it demonstrates about using wide-ranging disciplines—from genetics and genealogy to archaeology, history, and osteology—to propose identities for otherwise unknown burials.</p>



<p>The study team invited consented 23andMe research participants who shared the strongest genetic connections to the St. Mary&#8217;s burials to contribute details from their own family trees. Researchers then searched for names that appeared across multiple genealogies and combined those findings with other anthropological evidence. Focusing on three closely related individuals, they found overlaps pointing to a single colonial family: Governor Thomas Greene, the second governor of the Maryland colony, his first wife Anne, and their son Leonard. This marks the first time ancient DNA has been used to propose identities for unknown historical individuals without any prior knowledge of who they might be, a significant milestone for the field.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-built-with-community">Research built with community</h2>



<p>Cutting-edge science wasn&#8217;t the only key to the success of this study. The early Maryland descendant community, including those who trace their lineage to the original <em>Ark</em> and <em>Dove</em> voyage, provided active support of the project.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-683x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-35280" style="width:257px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-683x1024.png 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-200x300.png 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-768x1152.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-587x880.png 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small-787x1180.png 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/reenactor_woman_sewing_small.png 1101w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>St. Mary’s City historical interpreter portraying a seamstress. Image credit: Chip Clark, Smithsonian institution</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The study also depended on the millions of 23andMe members who chose to participate in research. Participants who reported genealogical ties to 17th-century St. Mary&#8217;s City were significantly more likely to share DNA with the colonial individuals than those who did not, underscoring the real-world meaning of those genetic connections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-the-future-of-ancient-dna-research">What this means for the future of ancient DNA research</h2>



<p>The St. Mary&#8217;s City study represents something genuinely new: a framework that combines ancient DNA, archaeology, genealogical records, and a large modern genetics database to answer questions that written history could not resolve alone. The approach, particularly the method for proposing identities for unknown individuals, opens a door to similar work at countless other historical sites.</p>



<p>As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this research underscores the enduring connections between the nation&#8217;s earliest European settlers and millions of living Americans.</p>


Sr. Scientist I, Population Genetics R&D

Éadaoin Harney

Ancient DNA and 23andMe Are Rewriting the Story of Some of America’s Earliest Colonists


<p>Every year on April 25th, the world observes World Malaria Day to highlight the ongoing effort to control and eliminate this devastating disease. This month, we are highlighting a study that searched for cases of ancient malaria infections across the globe to learn about its history and spread.</p>



<p>While most ancient DNA studies focus on the human DNA of the individuals whose remains were sampled, it is also possible to learn about the diseases these individuals carried by searching for pathogen DNA in their remains.</p>



<p>These kinds of studies have enabled researchers to investigate the origins and spread of ancient diseases that were otherwise nearly impossible to study. This is because many ancient diseases, including malaria, don’t leave clear physical evidence on skeletal remains. Furthermore, historical records of ancient epidemics often lack the specificity needed to identify exactly which diseases were present or where they originated.</p>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38867050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In 2024</a>, a team of researchers looked at ancient DNA to search for cases of malaria among more than 10,000 individuals. In this month’s update to the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature, we are highlighting the stories of individuals buried at three ancient sites where malaria was detected. Each of their stories provides important new insights into the history of this ancient disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spreading-malaria-along-european-military-lines">Spreading Malaria Along European Military Lines</h2>



<p>In Europe, the cemetery of St. Rombout’s in Mechelen, Belgium, offers a window into the health of a continent at war. Sitting next to one of the world’s first permanent military hospitals, this site served as a burial ground for both local townspeople and foreign soldiers from the 12th to the 18th centuries.</p>



<p>While local residents, who were buried at this site before the hospital was established, showed fewer signs of infection, later individuals—thought to be soldiers who had traveled from the Mediterranean—were often found carrying multiple strains of malaria simultaneously. These findings highlight how the movement of armies turned European cities into crossroads for infectious disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carrying-malaria-to-the-himalayan-peaks">Carrying Malaria to the Himalayan Peaks</h2>



<p>The high-altitude site of Chokhopani sits 2,800 meters above sea level in the Nepalese Himalayas. This environment is far too cold and dry for the <em>Anopheles</em> mosquitoes that transmit malaria to survive. Yet, genomic analysis of an individual buried within one of the site’s cliffside tombs nearly 3,000 years ago revealed the presence of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>, the most virulent form of the malaria parasite.</p>



<p>Finding a tropical disease in a mountain environment provides clear evidence of human mobility. It tells us that this ancient individual had likely traveled to warmer, lower-altitude regions—possibly for trade—and carried the infection back to this highland site.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-arrival-of-malaria-in-the-americas">Tracking the Arrival of Malaria in the Americas</h2>



<p>A central debate among disease researchers is whether malaria existed in the Americas prior to European contact or if it was brought there by European colonizers. The study of individuals from the site of Laguna de los Cóndores in Peru provides a pretty clear answer.</p>



<p>Researchers at the site discovered an individual with exclusively Indigenous American ancestry who lived during the period of initial European contact and was infected with <em>Plasmodium vivax </em>(a more widespread form of the malaria parasite). Crucially, the DNA of the parasite was most similar to historical European strains rather than those found elsewhere. This finding suggests that European colonizers acted as the primary vector for introducing these specific malaria strains to the Indigenous populations of the Andes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p>Want to see if you share a genetic connection with any of the ancient malaria-infected individuals highlighted in this study—or with hundreds of other historical individuals? The Historical Matches feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23and</a><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">M</a><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">e+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



<p></p>


New Historical Matches Could Connect You to the Hidden History of Malaria


<p>At 23andMe, we are committed to providing our customers with the most granular and meaningful insights into their heritage. Today, we are thrilled to announce a major update for our customers of Filipino descent: the launch of <strong>144 new Genetic Groups</strong> across the Philippines and neighboring regions, providing the most detailed breakdown of Filipino ancestry available.</p>



<p>The Philippines is a land of incredible diversity, with over 7,000 islands and a rich tapestry of cultural and regional communities. We are now able to identify if members share DNA segments with those who have a known family history from a specific location or community. More than 75% of our members of Filipino descent, who are on our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Chip-Version" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest genotyping chip</a>, will now see matches to one or more of these new Genetic Groups. And <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members will also be able to see any <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/discover-distant-genetic-groups-with-23andme-premium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distant Genetic Group</a> connections they may have to these regions.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1008" height="1024" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-1008x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-35041" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-1008x1024.png 1008w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-295x300.png 295w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-768x780.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-867x880.png 867w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/philippines-genetic-groups-1162x1180.png 1162w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-shared-heritage">A Shared Heritage</h2>



<p>In addition to 141 Genetic Groups across the Philippines this update includes 1 new group in Taiwan and 2 groups in Borneo, reflecting the shared <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/what-is-austronesian-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Austronesian</a> ancestry in this region.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Who are Austronesians? Around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, seafaring groups originating from what is now Taiwan began migrating southward into the Philippine archipelago, likely entering through the Batanes Islands and Northern Luzon. These migrants brought with them new technologies, such as the outrigger canoe, along with agricultural practices, including the cultivation of rice and the domestication of animals. Over millennia, these populations fanned out across the 7,000+ islands of the Philippines, developing distinct linguistic and cultural identities while maintaining a shared genetic and naval heritage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This movement didn&#8217;t stop in the Philippines; the archipelago served as a vital jumping-off point for further expansion into Indonesia, Malaysia, and eventually as far west as Madagascar and as far east as the remote islands of Polynesia, forever linking the Filipino people to a vast Austronesian cultural network.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-check-out-your-results">Check out your results</h2>



<p>With this update, discovering more about your Filipino heritage with 23andMe has never been more specific. This is part of our ongoing commitment to improving our science and representation for all our customers. We can&#8217;t wait for you to see it. <a href="https://auth.23andme.com/login/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Log in</a> to explore your updated results in your Ancestry Composition report today.</p>


Sr. Manager, Product Science

Alisa Lehman

Beyond the Archipelago: Explore the Most Detailed Filipino Ancestry Breakdown with 23andMe





<p>High on a vertical cliff face on the Yun-Gui Plateau of southwest China, you can find the entrance to Pingtang Cave. For centuries, this remote site held a somber secret: the remains of dozens of individuals scattered within its deepest, oxygen-poor reaches.</p>



<p>Now, thanks to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106459" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a> published in the <em>Journal of Archaeological Science</em> earlier this year, the stories of these individuals are coming to light. This month, 23andMe is adding four individuals from this cliff-side site to our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-landscape-in-transition">A Landscape in Transition</h2>



<p>During the 14th century, the Yun-Gui Plateau was a region of immense cultural and political transformation. As the Ming Dynasty sought to consolidate power and expand its borders into the southwest, the area became a frontier of conflict. The rugged karst landscape, characterized by its towering limestone cliffs and deep river valleys, served as both a strategic stronghold for the military and a vital sanctuary for local communities caught in the crossfire of imperial expansion.</p>



<p>Historically known for its incredible ethnolinguistic diversity, the plateau was home to various indigenous groups who had inhabited these mountains for millennia. The transition between the Late Yuan and Early Ming periods in the 14th century brought an influx of new people and upheavals in local government, creating a complex social tapestry. For the families found in Pingtang Cave, these remote, high-altitude caverns were not just geological features—they were essential places of refuge during a time of profound uncertainty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-refuge-not-a-cemetery">A Refuge, Not a Cemetery</h2>



<p>When researchers first investigated Pingtang Cave, they quickly realized this was no ordinary burial ground. Unlike traditional sites of the era, there were no coffins, no grave goods, and no signs of formal interment. Instead, the skeletons were found in the deepest recesses of the cave, far from the light of the entrance.</p>



<p>While most of the group appeared to be healthy prior to entering the cave, the genetic analysis revealed that one individual was suffering from paratyphoid fever, caused by the bacterium <em>Salmonella enterica</em>. Her genome also revealed that her parents were likely closely related, perhaps as closely as second cousins, a finding that provides unique insight into the social and mating structures of isolated plateau communities during this era.</p>



<p>The lack of physical trauma or signs of violence ruled out a massacre, while the absence of a widespread plague suggested something else entirely. Researchers believe these families fled to the cave to escape external conflict, perhaps the unrest of the Ming Dynasty’s expansion into the region, only to succumb to the low oxygen of the cave&#8217;s deepest chambers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-families-of-pingtang-cave">The Families of Pingtang Cave</h2>



<p>The genetic data reveals that those who fled to the cave were not strangers; they were a tightly-knit community of relatives. Most of these individuals shared the same maternal lineage (haplogroup M7b1a1), suggesting that the group was a multi-generational family, who were connected through a shared maternal lineage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-heritage">A Window into Heritage</h2>



<p>All of the members of this group shared a similar ancestral profile, characterized by a mixture of ancient northern and southern East Asian ancestry. This genetic signature persists today in the present-day inhabitants of southwest China, bridging the gap between the people living during the transition into the Ming Dynasty and the modern world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now explore whether they share a genetic link to these ancient Chinese individuals, and hundreds of others, through the Historical Matches feature.</p>


New Historical Matches Could Connect You to a 600 Year Old Mystery in Southwest China




<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout" style="border:1px solid #000;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td>
<h2>Key Takeaways</h2>
<ul><li>23andMe’s new Reconstructed Ancestors feature, the first and only feature of its kind, analyzes shared DNA segments across your relatives to accurately reconstruct the genetic profiles of parents and grandparents who were never genotyped (with plans to add more ancestors in the future).</li>
<li>Profiles evolve over time; as you build your family tree and the global database grows, your ancestor profiles become increasingly detailed and precise.</li>
<li>This feature provides a new path for all members, including adoptees or those with limited family information, to uncover ancestral inheritance and reclaim family history where written records are lost or nonexistent.</li></ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>At 23andMe, we believe your DNA holds the key to stories you’ve never heard and people you’ve never met. Today, we’re excited to introduce a groundbreaking new feature that uncovers ancestral stories hidden in your DNA: <strong>Reconstructed Ancestors</strong>.</p>



<p>This innovative experience uses the DNA you share with close and distant relatives to piece together the genetic profiles of your ancestors, revealing insights into their ancestry composition and what they passed down to you.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="777" height="1024" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-777x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34982" style="width:417px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-777x1024.png 777w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-228x300.png 228w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-768x1012.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-668x880.png 668w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather-895x1180.png 895w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-grandfather.png 905w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unlocking-your-family-s-untold-stories">Unlocking Your Family’s Untold Stories</h2>



<p>For many of us, family history has blank spaces. Maybe it’s because records were lost or destroyed or never existed in the first place. Maybe no one really talked about “that side” of the family. Reconstructed Ancestors helps bridge those gaps by using DNA to learn about how ancestry from different global populations moves through branches of your family tree.</p>



<p>23andMe can use your genetic relatives to rebuild parts of your ancestors’ genetic profiles. That means you can learn more about ancestors who were never genotyped and who may no longer be here to share their stories.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GRAMPA: The DNA Detective Behind the Scenes</h2>



<p>Behind the scenes is our GRAMPA algorithm (Genotype Reconstruction and Ancestral Mixture Proportions in Ancestors). Think of it like a genetic jigsaw puzzle: each piece of DNA you share with another relative has traveled through a shared ancestor. GRAMPA uses these overlapping segments, scattered across hundreds or even thousands of relatives to piece together the genome of that shared ancestor.</p>



<p>The more relatives who test, and the more relatives you add to your family tree, the more pieces we have and the clearer the picture becomes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An Ever-Growing Portrait of Your Family’s Past</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="658" height="1024" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-658x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34984" style="width:249px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-658x1024.png 658w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-193x300.png 193w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-768x1196.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-565x880.png 565w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited-758x1180.png 758w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-what-you-inherited.png 786w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px" /></figure>



<p>Reconstructing an ancestor starts with our DNA Relatives feature. By opting in, you allow 23andMe to identify and connect you to people who share DNA with you. These connections form the foundation of your automatic, DNA-based Family Tree and it’s from this tree that we can begin to reconstruct your recent ancestors. First, we scan the database for shared DNA segments between you and your relatives. Then we begin piecing together those segments into an ancestor profile, revealing what we can for now and continuing to add more over time.</p>



<p>Each reconstructed ancestor profile is unique and dynamic. As you build out your Family Tree, and as the 23andMe DNA database grows, more puzzle pieces are added to the ancestor profile. You can see what percentage of your DNA you inherited from that ancestor, explore their likely ancestry and begin to imagine who they might have been. The story deepens, details emerge, and a clearer picture of your family history begins to take shape.</p>



<p>Importantly, your privacy remains central. You control who sees your Reconstructed Ancestors, your Family Tree and how your information is used, ensuring your journey into your family’s past is both meaningful and secure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why It’s Different</h2>



<p>Reconstructed Ancestors is the first and only feature of its kind. It covers more than just inheritance; it rebuilds the genome of the person behind the inheritance. And it’s not limited to parents. At launch, the feature will include ancestors up to grandparents. Our hope is that one day you will be able to accurately piece together your entire family tree, including the gaps, with DNA as your guide.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="786" height="624" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-dna-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34987" style="width:323px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-dna-1.png 786w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-dna-1-300x238.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reconstructed-ancestors-dna-1-768x610.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Real Stories, New Connections</h2>



<p>More than 200,000 23andMe customers who self-report as an adoptee have already found close relatives in our database. For those who cannot make that connection yet, Reconstructed Ancestors offers a new kind of discovery, a way to learn about their ancestry inheritance, a way to feel closer to a relative they’ve never met.</p>



<p>It’s about more than just genetics. It’s about reclaiming pieces of your past that history forgot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Available for Subscribers</h2>



<p>Reconstructed Ancestors will be available for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Total Health</a>™ members. There’s no need to provide another DNA sample or wait for results.</p>



<p>And this is just the beginning. Your family story is still unfolding. Every new relative who joins 23andMe helps add more pieces to the puzzle and brings you one step closer to understanding where you come from.</p>



Sarabeth Hamberlin

Meet Your Reconstructed Ancestors: A New Chapter in Your Family Story




<p>Whether you’re a seasoned genetics explorer or just beginning to dive into your DNA, the most exciting part of the journey is often discovering how you’re connected to others.</p>



<p>Today, we’re thrilled to introduce <strong>DNA Relatives Clustering</strong>, a powerful new tool for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members that helps you get more out of your genetic connections. Track down shared ancestors and visualize family branches seamlessly, instead of manually piecing together how your genetic relatives are related. This feature automatically organizes your DNA Relatives into visual groups based on their shared genetic connections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-s-a-game-changer">Why It’s a Game-Changer</h2>



<p>In the past, identifying which relatives belonged to your mother’s side versus your father’s side, or deeper into specific great-grandparent lines, required lots of manual searching.</p>



<p>Clustering does the heavy lifting for you. By providing a visual map of your genetic network, it’s easier than ever to find this information. It’s not just a list of names anymore; it’s a blueprint of your history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-works-a-visual-map-of-your-family">How It Works: A Visual Map of Your Family</h2>



<p>DNA Relatives Clustering generates an intuitive &#8220;map&#8221; of your family connections. By analyzing how your relatives share DNA with one another, not just with you, the tool creates a grid that brings your family branches to life.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Clusters (Blocks of the Same Color): These represent a specific branch or part of your family. A cluster typically corresponds to people who share a set of specific ancestors, such as a pair of great-great-grandparents. Individual colored squares within a cluster show two people who share sufficient DNA with each other and with other relatives in that group. You can hover over each square to learn about the DNA shared between those two relatives.</li>



<li>“Single Square” Clusters: Occasionally, you’ll see a single colorful square on the diagonal. These are DNA relatives who are connected to relatives in other clusters but don&#8217;t share DNA with enough people to be included in those clusters. Nevertheless they can help you figure out how the clusters relate to you and each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>



<li>Dark Gray Squares: These squares appear &#8220;off the diagonal&#8221; and represent people who share DNA but aren’t grouped into the same cluster. These can be useful for seeing how clusters reflect different branches of your family tree.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-the-scenes">The Science Behind the Scenes</h2>



<p>Our scientists are always looking for ways to make genetic data more actionable. DNA Relatives Clustering was inspired by the popular Leeds Method, a manual sorting technique used by genealogists.</p>



<p>However, we’ve taken it a step further. Our scientists designed a novel algorithm specifically for the 23andMe platform. While our tool uses optimal defaults to get you started, we’ve also included advanced filtering controls, allowing you to customize the parameters of your map more than any other tool on the market. You can change settings to adjust who gets included, make the clusters more closely or loosely related, or focus the analysis on just the DNA Relatives shared in common with another DNA Relative. <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/38509301730839-How-to-Use-DNA-Relatives-Clustering-at-23andMe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn a little more about how to run clustering analyses</a>, and have fun exploring!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-started">Get Started</h2>



<p>DNA Relatives Clustering is available now for 23andMe+ Premium members. Ready to see your family in a whole new light?</p>



Peter Wilton

Introducing DNA Relatives Clustering: A New Way to Map Genetic Connections at 23andMe




<p>DNA is more than just a list of percentages, it’s a map of your history that connects you to the people who came before you and the living relatives who share your journey. Today, we are excited to announce the reintroduction of a fan-favorite tool, Advanced DNA Comparison, now powered by our most sophisticated technology yet.</p>



<p>For <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members, this feature allows you to look under the hood of your genetic matches and move from &#8220;we are related&#8221; to &#8220;here is how we fit together.&#8221; While features like <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/sections/202646848-DNA-Relatives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA Relatives</a> may tell you <em>that</em> you are genetically related to someone, Advanced DNA Comparison shows you exactly <em>where</em> that shared DNA lives on your genome. Whether you are piecing together a complex family mystery, building out your family tree, or simply trying to understand how you are connected to a new match, this tool gives you a way to start mapping your history with unprecedented precision.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-advanced-dna-comparison">What is Advanced DNA Comparison?</h2>



<p>This feature allows you to visualize the specific segments of DNA you share with your relatives.</p>



<p>By identifying these shared blocks of genetic code, you can start performing deep-dive genealogical research. 23andMe+ Premium members can:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>View Segment Locations: See the start and end points of shared DNA between you and a DNA relative or connection across all 23 chromosomes.</li>



<li>Compare Multiple People: Analyze shared segments with up to five relatives at once to identify common ancestors.</li>



<li>Uncover &#8220;Triangulation&#8221;: Find overlapping segments among multiple matches to help determine which branch of your family tree a new relative belongs to.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powered-by-hybridibd-technology">Powered by HybridIBD Technology</h2>



<p>The reintroduction of this tool isn&#8217;t just a simple &#8220;unlock&#8221; of old software. We’ve rebuilt the engine using our enhanced <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/update-to-dna-relatives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HybridIBD™ technology</a>. This advanced algorithm combines two different types of IBD analysis (phasedIBD and IBD64) to detect shared segments with higher precision than ever before. This is especially helpful for correctly identifying distant relatives, and for identifying more close relationships for members with South Asian, West Asian, or North African ancestries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each time you compare new individuals, you&#8217;re running a custom analysis. We regularly update our phasing algorithms to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41046513/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improve DNA comparisons</a>, and computing your results in real-time ensures high precision and up-to-date insights.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-detail-matters">Why the Detail Matters</h2>



<p>Why look at segments instead of just percentages? Because the <em>length</em> and <em>location</em> of shared DNA tell a story:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Recent vs. Distant: Generally, longer segments indicate a more recent common ancestor. Multiple short, &#8220;choppy&#8221; segments across the genome often suggest more distant, population-wide sharing.</li>



<li>Mapping Your Tree: If you and two other cousins all share the exact same segment, it’s a &#8220;smoking gun&#8221; that you all inherited that DNA from the same specific ancestor.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-privacy-and-security-first">Privacy and Security First</h2>



<p>We know that your genetic data is your most sensitive information. We’ve redesigned this feature with a &#8220;Security-First&#8221; architecture to ensure you remain in total control of what you share:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Explicit Consent: You can only see segments for DNA Relatives who have specifically opted into sharing matching DNA segments, or with connections who have chosen to share with you.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="386" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-1024x386.png" alt="An image showing the DNA Relatives settings that allow you share segments or not." class="wp-image-34951" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-1024x386.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-300x113.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-768x290.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-880x332.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings-1180x445.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DNAR-settings.png 1750w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Personalized Comparison: You can only compare your own profile (or profiles you manage within your account, or connected profiles) against your DNA relatives and connections.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Total Control: You can opt-in or opt-out of segment sharing at any time through your DNA Relatives settings or by managing your connections.</li>



<li>Proactive Safeguards: Built-in protections help prevent attempts to misuse this feature to view others’ information while maintaining the functionality for it to be used as intended.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Get Started</h2>



<p>If you are already a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a> member, you can find the Advanced DNA Comparison tool under &#8220;Family &amp; Friends&#8221; today.</p>



<p>Not a Premium member yet? Upgrading gives you immediate access to this feature, along with advanced DNA Relatives filters, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/introducing-dna-relatives-clustering" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA Relatives Clustering</a>, the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature, Distant Genetic Groups, and innovative health reports.</p>



Samantha Ancona Esselmann

Decoding Your Connections: Introducing Advanced DNA Comparison




<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-remote-island-at-the-heart-of-history">A Remote Island at the Heart of History</h2>



<p>Located 1,200 miles from the coast of Africa, Saint Helena is perhaps best known as the final place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte. However, the island&#8217;s genetic story is much more complex than a single French emperor.</p>



<p>While the Island of St. Helena was first sighted by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century, its modern trajectory began in 1659 when the English East India Company established a permanent settlement. Its strategic position along the vital trade routes between Europe and Asia made it an important resupply station for ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope. This central role in maritime commerce resulted in a diverse blend of inhabitants from European settlers, Chinese laborers, and enslaved people brought from Madagascar, Malaysia, India, and Africa.</p>



<p>Starting in 1840, St. Helena became a pivotal base for the British Royal Navy’s campaign to suppress the transatlantic slave trade. Between 1840 and 1867, the Navy intercepted slave ships and brought approximately 27,000 &#8220;liberated Africans&#8221; to the island. While these individuals were freed from bondage, many had suffered immensely during the Middle Passage, and some of those who did not survive were buried on St. Helena. For centuries, the specific origins of those buried here were lost, until now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoring-lost-connections">Restoring Lost Connections</h2>



<p>In 2007 and 2008 archeologists uncovered the remains of 325 individuals during roadwork on the north coast of St. Helena associated with the construction of the island’s first ever airport. Ancient DNA researchers <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37683613/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sequenced the genomes</a> of 20 of those individuals. This research has provided the first direct evidence of their origins:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Geographic Roots</strong>: DNA revealed that these individuals likely originated from West Central Africa, specifically the region between northern Angola and Gabon.</li>



<li><strong>A Snapshot of the Trade</strong>: The genetic analysis aligned with broader archaeological findings that confirmed a significant sex bias: 17 of the 20 individuals were male. This reflects the documented patterns of the late-stage slave trade.</li>
</ul>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now see if they share DNA with 7 of the 20 individuals whose genomes were sequenced who are now included in the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature. This update means you may find a genetic connection to these specific historical individuals, helping to restore a genealogical bridge that was once thought to be permanently broken.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-genetic-tapestry-of-modern-saints-nbsp">The Genetic Tapestry of Modern &#8220;Saints&#8221;&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The story of St. Helena doesn&#8217;t end in the 19th century. Today’s islanders, known as &#8220;Saints,&#8221; carry a diverse genetic legacy shaped by the island&#8217;s role as a global crossroads. To investigate the modern genetics of St. Helena we looked at 23andMe members who reported recent ancestors from St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. From this we created our new &#8220;Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha&#8221; Genetic Group allowing 23andMe members to see if they have a connection to people from this British Overseas Territory within the Migrations section of their Ancestry Composition report.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In creating this Genetic Group we noticed some interesting highlights:&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The modern population is a blend of African, European, and Asian roots.</li>



<li>&#8220;Saints&#8221; often show an interesting bias in their maternal and paternal lines. Maternal haplogroups frequently point toward Austronesian or South Asian ancestry, while paternal lines are often a mix of South Asian and European origins.</li>



<li>Interestingly, there is little overlap between the people who match the liberated Africans in our Historical Matches and those who receive matches to the St. Helena Genetic Group. This might suggest that many of the liberated Africans eventually left the island or died without descendants who remained there, while the modern &#8220;Saints&#8221; who make up this Genetic Group may represent a separate chapter of the island&#8217;s vibrant history.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34932" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1024x529.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-300x155.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-768x397.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-880x455.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/St-helena-side-by-side-1180x610.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><em>The averaged Ancestry Composition of the individuals in the Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Genetic Group (left) and individuals who have Historical Matches to the The Liberated Africans of St. Helena Island (right).</em></em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why This Matters</h2>



<p>Genetics is more than just percentages on a map; it can be a tool for historical justice and personal discovery. By studying both the ancient DNA of historical individuals and the data of modern populations, we can honor the legacy of those whose stories were omitted from history books. Whether you are a &#8220;Saint&#8221; yourself or a 23andMe member discovering a new connection to the South Atlantic, these updates remind us that our DNA is a living record of the journeys that shaped our world.</p>



Genetics of a Global Crossroads: A Deep Dive into Saint Helena’s Ancestry




<p>Long-distance relationships are nothing new. In the 6th century, the Silk Road was the ultimate connector: a thousands-of-miles-long highway spanning from Asia to Southern Europe, that brought people, religions, and traditions together. This Valentine’s Day, we’re looking at the story of a partnership that emerged from this ancient trade route.</p>



<p>In 2005, archaeologists discovered a joint tomb just outside the ancient Chinese capital of Chang’an (modern-day Xi&#8217;an). According to inscriptions found at the site, the tomb belonged to a man named Li Dan and his wife, a couple who had been laid to rest there approximately 1,500 years ago.</p>



<p>While a DNA test cannot technically &#8220;prove&#8221; if two people were in love, their shared burial and the unique mix of designs inspired by two distinctive cultures found on their tomb suggest a connection that defied geographical barriers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-mystery-written-in-stone">A Mystery Written in Stone</h2>



<p>For centuries, the story of this couple was a riddle hidden in plain sight. Li Dan’s funeral inscription made two contradictory claims: it stated he was a descendant of prestigious Chinese aristocratic clans, yet it also identified his father and grandfather as Brahmins from ancient South Asian kingdoms.</p>



<p>The rest of the tomb only added to the mystery, as it featured a fusion of cultures. Although the tomb was built in a traditional Chinese architectural style, it was decorated with a mixture of local mythical figures, like the Four Divine Beasts, and foreign guardians that resembled Buddhist statues from India. Even more striking was the discovery of a gold coin from the Eastern Roman Empire found in the wife’s mouth—a custom common along the Silk Road but far from the local norm.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="748" height="890" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34839" style="width:337px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing.jpg 748w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing-252x300.jpg 252w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Li_Dan_tomb_entrance_line_drawing-740x880.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A line drawing of the entrance to Li Dan&#8217;s tomb</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-cross-border-connection-written-in-dna">A Cross-Border Connection Written in DNA</h2>



<p>Late last year, a team of researchers decided to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105474" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study the couple’s DNA</a> to help resolve the contradictions found in their tomb. The results provided the first direct genomic evidence of a 6th-century couple with such distinct ancestral backgrounds.</p>



<p>Genetic analysis revealed that Li Dan had northern South Asian ancestry. His genetic profile showed broad similarities to present-day Brahmin groups, supporting the inscriptions on his tomb suggesting his family belonged to this community. In contrast, his wife’s ancestry was local to Chang’an, tracing back to ancient farmers of the Middle Yellow River in northern China. The unique mix of Chinese and South Asian influences discovered in their tomb reflects a blending of cultures that likely characterized their lives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-home-at-the-heart-of-the-world">A Home at the Heart of the World</h2>



<p>We may never know how they felt about each other, but their tomb tells us how they may have lived. Li Dan was a high-status traveler who arrived in Chang’an to expound Buddhist scriptures after studying in the kingdom of Jibin. Rather than remaining an outsider, he settled down, married a local woman, and adopted a Chinese surname, all while keeping the traditions of his homeland alive.</p>



<p>This Valentine&#8217;s Day, their story reminds us that even 1,500 years ago, the most enduring connections can bridge different worlds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



<p>Want to see if you’re genetically connected to this ancient couple, or to hundreds of other historical individuals? The <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature is available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members.</p>



New Historical Matches Could Link You to This 6th Century “Cross-Border” Couple




<p>In 2004, a construction crew preparing to build a shopping center in Norwich, England, uncovered a disturbing mystery: a medieval well containing the commingled remains of at least 17 people. The positioning of the skeletons suggested they had been thrown in head-first, victims of a single, violent event. For years, the identity of these individuals remained unknown, their story lost to the silence of the well.</p>



<p>But thanks to ancient DNA technology, a team of researchers from the Natural History Museum and University College London was finally able to tell their story in a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36044903/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic study published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em> in 2022</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This month, 23andMe is adding these individuals to our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Matches</a><sup>SM</sup> feature, allowing customers to see if they share a genetic connection to one of the earliest identified Ashkenazi Jewish communities in England. This update offers a poignant glimpse into this tragic moment in history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-a-medieval-mystery">Solving a Medieval Mystery</h2>



<p>When archaeologists first analyzed the site, the chaotic nature of the burial suggested a catastrophe, such as famine, epidemic, or violent massacre, in which the victims were hastily buried by survivors in a makeshift grave. However the exact nature of this catastrophe remained a mystery.</p>



<p>In this genetic study, researchers sequenced the genomes of six individuals buried within the well, shedding new light on the individuals buried within the mass grave. Their analyses revealed that all six individuals shared strong genetic affinities with present-day Ashkenazi Jewish populations. Additionally, radiocarbon dating placed their deaths between 1161 and 1216 CE. This precise timeline, combined with their ancestry and the location of the well just south of the medieval Jewish quarter, pointed towards a specific historical tragedy in Norwich’s history: the antisemitic riots of February 6, 1190 CE, for which there is historically documented evidence of a massacre of the Jewish community in Norwich.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-connections">Family Connections</h2>



<p>What makes this study particularly powerful is that it revealed that those buried in the well were not strangers, but a group of close relatives who likely sought shelter together during this violent massacre. Among the six individuals whose genomes were sequenced, the research team identified three young sisters and two other distantly related males. This suggests that the victims of this attack were not randomly selected from across the Norwich population, but instead that these may have been members of a single or small number of households or families who had gathered together for protection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-genetic-history">A Window into Genetic History</h2>



<p>This study also provided the first genetic data for a Jewish community in medieval England, offering a new timeline for the Ashkenazi &#8220;genetic bottleneck&#8221;—a historical event detectable in the genomes of people with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry where the population size was drastically reduced, leading to lower genetic diversity. While historians had previously theorized this bottleneck occurred later, during the persecutions of the 14th or 15th centuries, the genetic signatures in the Norwich individuals suggest it began centuries earlier.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This early genetic bottleneck is the reason why variants associated with specific hereditary diseases are common among modern Ashkenazi Jewish populations. With this in mind, the study team searched for these disease-associated markers and discovered that variants responsible for a number of conditions that occur at elevated frequency in Ashkenazi Jewish populations were already present in the medieval Norwich population at frequencies similar to those seen today. This finding challenges the long-held belief that such diseases became more common in this community later in history. Instead, the study demonstrates that the genetic factors affecting Ashkenazi Jewish health today have a lineage stretching back nearly a millennium, predating the major pogroms and expulsions of the later Middle Ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honoring-the-past">Honoring the Past</h2>



<p>Although Jewish law typically prohibits the disturbance of human remains, the likely religious identity of these individuals was unknown during the initial rescue excavation in 2004. However, once researchers suspected that the remains might belong to members of the medieval Jewish community, they immediately consulted with the Norwich Hebrew Congregation. The study proceeded only after receiving specific permission from the Office of the Chief Rabbi to investigate the history of these individuals. Following the completion of osteological and genetic analyses, the remains were respectfully reinterred in the Jewish cemetery in Norwich during a multi-faith ceremony. Today, these individuals are remembered through a commemorative plaque placed near the original site of the well, ensuring their story is no longer lost to history.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34742" style="width:358px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-660x880.jpg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-885x1180.jpg 885w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A photo of the memorial stone that was placed at the site where the individuals were reburied. It is located in the Jewish section of Earlham Cemetery, Norwich.</em> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jewish_memorial_in_Earlham_cemetery_Norwich._JPG.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northmetpit</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Explore Your Connection</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe+ Premium</a>™ members can now explore whether they share a genetic link to these individuals–and hundreds of others–through the Historical Matches feature.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Note of Remembrance</h2>



<p>We are releasing this update as we approach January 27, the United Nations-designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. While the events in Norwich occurred centuries before the Holocaust, they serve as a somber reminder of the long history of antisemitism and the atrocities committed against Jewish communities throughout history.</p>



Ancestry Service