ARCHAEOLOGY: 90 Egyptian Mummies

These are the sons of Ham,....

Genesis 10:20

"The Book of Genesis (10:1–32) preserves very ancient genealogical lists that biblical historians label “The Table of Nations.” Contained in these 32 verses are the family trees of Noah and his three sons. Their lines of descendants eventually formed the various ethnic groups populating the eastern

Mediterranean basin, Northern Africa, the Aegean world, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, and beyond. In his essay introducing the peoples of the Old Testament, Assyriologist D. J. Wiseman (1973: xvii) made the important point that this “‘Table’ omits reference to race or physical type yet aims to show the unity of mankind, being primarily concerned with physical relationships.” In other words, the Genesis account demonstrates that all of post-Flood humanity propagated solely from Noah and his family.

A supposed correlation between new archaeological discoveries and Genesis 10:6, specifically concerning Mizraim (Egypt), a son of Ham, comes from human remains unearthed at Abusir-el Meleq near Cairo in Egypt. Scientists tested DNA samples from 90 mummies ranging in date from ca. 1388 BC to AD 426 (Schuenemann, et al 2017).

These tests revealed that ancient Egyptians shared more ancestry with Semitic groups to the north than do modern Egyptians. Some claim this study may prove the account of the dispersion of Noah’s sons in Genesis. In fact, the report neither proves nor discredits Genesis 9–10.

In sum, the DNA material retrieved from these remains, while extremely interesting, most likely represents early traders, soldiers or immigrants originating from Canaan, Anatolia, and regions to the north. This revelation is hardly surprising because the agriculturally rich Nile delta attracted large numbers of foreign peoples throughout history. Nile delta region of Egypt was probably a rich mixture of Egyptians and various immigrant groups at least as early as the time of Abraham."

 According to Dr. Janet Davey from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in Australia, some ancient Egyptians were naturally blonde or red haired. "Some ancient Egyptians could have been blue-eyed blondes or brown-

eyed blondes. I wouldn't say ancient Egypt was multi-cultural like Australia today but certainly there were various mixes." - she said. Moreover, one of the greatest pharaohs in history, Ramesses II, had red hair.  For many decades, researchers believed that his color was caused by natron applied to the mummy. Another theory said that fair hair in Egyptian mummies was a result of marriages with women from Anatolia. The Hittite prince Zannanza, who was sent from Hattusha to Thebes to marry princess Ankhesenamun, had light skin and hair. The father of the powerful queen Tiye (wife of Amenhotep III), Yuya was blonde as well."
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