Basques, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Algerians have been studied for HLA and
mitochondrial DNA markers, and the data analysis suggests that pre-Neolith
ic gene flow into Iberia came from ancient white North Africans (Hamites).
The Basque language has also been used to translate the Iberian-Tartesian l
anguage and also Etruscan and Minoan Linear A. Physical anthropometry of Ib
erian Mesolithic and Neolithic skeletons does not support the demic replace
ment in Iberia of preexisting Mesolithic people by Neolithic people bearing
new fanning technologies from Europe and the Middle East. Also, the presen
ce of cardial impressed pottery in western Mediterranean Europe and across
the Maghreb (North Africa) coasts at the beginning of the Neolithic provide
s good evidence of pre-Neolithic circum-Mediterranean contacts by sea. in a
ddition, predynastic Egyptian El-Badari culture (4,500 years ago) is simila
r to southern Iberian Neolithic settlements with regard to pottery and anim
al domestication. Taking the genetic, linguistic, anthropological, and arch
eological evidence together with the documented Saharan area desiccation st
arting about 10,000 years ago, we believe that it is possible that a geneti
c and cultural pre-Neolithic flow coming from southern Mediterranean coasts
existed toward northern Mediterranean areas, including at least Iberia and
some Mediterranean islands. This model would substitute for the demic diff
usion model put forward to explain Neolithic innovations in Western Europe.