Scientists have analyzed the genomes of ancient Minoans and Mycenaeans, revealing shared ancestry linked to Neolithic farmers from Anatolia, with additional genetic input from the Caucasus/Iran and, for Mycenaeans, from northern grasslands. The study also confirms a genetic link between Mycenaeans and modern Greeks.
The Minoan culture was the first highly complex society on modern European soil, with palaces, writing, stunning art – and even flushing toilets. The article explores how this pioneering European civilization influenced western culture and how Minoan culture has been reconstructed and re-imagined in museum displays and modern representations.
