Leiden University

Stories

Ancient DNA supports Gothic origin story from Scandinavia

Co-led the Nature study with Copenhagen and Gothenburg

In 551 C.E., a Gothic historian named Jordanes wrote that his people sailed from a frozen island called Scandza and swept south to the Black Sea. More than 4,700 ancient genomes now show a large migration from Scandinavia into northern Poland around the time Gothic artifacts first appear there.

Updated 4 days ago

Archaeologists find 3,000-year-old Egyptian tomb while racing to protect it from floods

New Capabilities

As of September 2026: Runs the conservation and excavation project at Lower Sheikh ʿAbd el-Qurna

While clearing debris to divert flash floods away from ancient tombs near Luxor, archaeologists stumbled on a previously unknown 3,000-year-old burial. The tomb, cut into rock in the Theban necropolis, holds vivid wall paintings of an official named Paser and his wife before an offering table stacked with bread, beer, fruit, meat and flowers.

Updated Sep 11