North African DNA in Spain: Roman or Muslim Heritage?

North African DNA in Spain: Roman or Muslim?

How much North African ancestry does the Spanish population possess? This question, far from being anecdotal, has sparked intense historiographical debate. There is no single answer: while some genetic studies point to a minimal contribution, others locate the North African component in specific regions. The controversy centers on its origin: is it a legacy of Al-Andalus, or does it date back much further?

## The Roman and Carthaginian Thesis

A current of analysis holds that the North African DNA in the Iberian Peninsula predates the Muslim invasion. According to this view, the arrival of the Carthaginians and later the Roman Empire left a genetic mark that is not limited to the South but extends westward, even into areas where there was never a presence of Al-Andalus. It is argued that the later 'religious cleansing' did not imply a racial cleansing, hence why traces of this component are found today in communities that were not subjugated by Sarracin.

In this sense, some researchers emphasize that populations of the late Roman Empire already showed a considerable mixture with individuals from North Africa. This mix may have been enriched by the African dynasties of Al-Andalus, but it would not be the sole origin.

## Genetic Data: Haplogroups and Autosomal DNA

The debate focuses on the interpretation of genetic data. On one hand, population genetics has established that the Y-chromosome haplogroup R1b is the most common paternal lineage in Western Europe. According to some, this haplogroup has no relation to North African ancestry. However, other experts insist that the haplogroup is insufficient: autosomal DNA, which reflects the entire genome, shows mixture percentages that vary by region.

A study cited in the discussion, originating from the Knowledge Transfer Office, confirms the Phoenician origin of individuals buried in Cádiz dated to 5th century BCE. The answer is clear: they were from the Eastern Mediterranean, not North African. This finding suggests that extra-European connections in antiquity were a reality, but not necessarily with the Maghreb.

## The Map of Dispute

The geographical distribution of the North African component becomes the center of the dispute. Genetic maps circulating show percentages in autonomous communities like Asturias or Galicia, where the Andalusian presence was practically nonexistent. Those defending the pre-Sarracinic thesis consider this proof in favor of their view. Conversely, others argue that these maps are unreliable and that the overall African contribution is minimal, around 0.5%.

The confrontation is heated. Proponents of the pre-Roman thesis rely on geographical logic: the closer to Portugal, the higher the component; the closer to France, the lower. Meanwhile, skeptics insist that science has spoken and the African percentage is negligible.

Nevertheless, genetics has not settled the matter. The final irony is that, in a supposedly scientific debate, identity remains paramount. The Iberian Peninsula has always been a crossroads; the data confirm this, but interpretation continues to be a battlefield.