News in Brief Anthropology

Africa’s first herders spread pastoralism by mating with foragers

Crossbreeding, not just cultural influences, led hunter-gatherers to adopt livestock practices

modern African herders in Tanzania

INHERITING HERDING  Ancient DNA indicates that early African herders started mating with hunter-gatherers more than 5,000 years ago. Here, modern herders in Tanzania watch over their goats.

Katherine Grillo

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Ancient sheep, goat and cattle herders made Africa their home by hooking up with the continent’s native hunter-gatherers, a study suggests.