🏝️ Canary Islanders were mostly North African

Ancient genomes from all seven islands show an indigenous gene pool best modeled as ~73% Late Neolithic Morocco, ~13% European Steppe-linked (Bell Beaker), and ~6% sub-Saharan ancestry, with the rest Early Neolithic Maghrebi. Western islands carried more autochthonous Maghrebi, while eastern islands had more Steppe-linked input.

After conquest, modern Canarians average ~80% Spanish, ~18% indigenous, ~3% sub-Saharan, confirming a major colonial impact layered on top of the older North African base.

Takeaway: The archipelago’s first people were North African at their core, with some Steppe ancestry already present before settlement and island-by-island isolation shaping distinct profiles.

Source: Serrano et al., 2023. The genomic history of the indigenous people of the Canary Islands.