Research published in Science Advances has mapped the first comprehensive genomic history of the Nuragic civilization in Sardinia. By analyzing DNA from 4,000-year-old skeletal remains, scientists identified a significant genetic influx from the Eastern Mediterranean during the peak of the Bronze Age copper trade.
Contrary to previous theories of isolation, the genetic data shows that the Nuragic people were highly connected to maritime networks spanning from the Levant to the Atlantic coast. This study suggests that the unique megalithic structures of Sardinia were developed by a cosmopolitan society that integrated foreign technologies while maintaining a distinct local cultural identity.