 area. In July 2016, the expedition finally announced the results of their excavation.

Archaeological evidence, provided by architecture, burial arrangements, ceramics, and pottery fragments inscribed with non-Semitic writing, indicates that the Philistines were not native to Canaan. Most of the 150 dead were buried in oval-shaped graves, some were interred in ashlar chamber tombs, while there were 4 who were cremated. These burial arrangements were very common to the Aegean cultures, but not to the one indigenous to Canaan. Lawrence Stager of Harvard University believes that Philistines came to Canaan by ships before the Battle of the Delta circa 1175 BCE. DNA was extracted from the skeletons for archaeogenetic population analysis.

The Leon Levy Expedition, which has been going on since 1985, helped break down some of the previous assumptions that the Philistines were uncultured people by having evidence of perfume near the bodies in order for the deceased to smell it in the afterlife.

Genetic evidence
A study carried out on skeletons at Ashkelon in 2019 by an interdisciplinary team of scholars from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the Leon Levy Expedition found that human remains at Ashkelon, associated with "Philistines" during the Iron Age, derived most of their ancestry from the local Levantine gene pool, but with a certain amount of Southern-European-related admixture. This confirms previous historic and archaeological records of a Southern-European migration event, but it did not leave a long-lasting genetic impact. After two centuries, the Southern-European genetic markers were dwarfed by the local Levantine gene pool, suggesting intensive intermarriage. The Philistine culture and peoplehood remained distinct from other local communities for six centuries. The DNA suggests an influx of people of European heritage into Ashkelon in the twelfth century BC. The individuals' DNA shows similarities to that of ancient Cretans, but the team warns that it is impossible to specify the exact place in Europe from where Philistines had migrated to Levant, due to  limited number of ancient genomes available for study, "with 20 to 60 per cent similarity to DNA from ancient skeletons from Crete and Iberia and that from modern people living in Sardinia." The finding fits with an understanding of the Philistines as an “entangled” or “transcultural” group consisting of peoples of various origins
area. In July 2016, the expedition finally announced the result of their dig. 

 Archaeological evidence, provided by architecture, burial arrangement, ceramics, and pottery fragments inscribe with non - semite writing, indicates that the Philistines were not native to Canaan. Most of the 150 dead were buried in oval - shaped graf, some were interred in ashlar chamber grave, while there were 4 who were cremated. These burial arrangements were very common to the Aegean cultures, but not to the one indigenous to Canaan. Lawrence Stager of Harvard University believes that Philistines total to Canaan by ships before the Battle of the Delta circa 1175 BCE. DNA was extracted from the skeleton for archaeogenetic population analysis. 

 The Leon Levy Expedition, which has been going on since 1985, helped break down some of the former assumptions that the Philistines were artless people by having evidence of perfume near the bodies in orderliness for the deceased to smell it in the afterlife. 

 Genetic evidence 
 A study carried out on skeletal system at Ashkelon in 2019 by an interdisciplinary team of scholars from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the Leon Levy Expedition found that human remains at Ashkelon, associated with " Philistines " during the Iron Age, derived most of their ancestry from the local Levantine gene pool, but with a certain amount of Southern - European - associate admixture. This confirms former historic and archaeological record of a southerly - European migration event, but it did not leave a long - last genetic impact. After two centuries, the Southern - European familial markers were dwarfed by the local Levantine gene pool, suggesting intensive intermarriage. The Philistine polish and peoplehood remained distinct from other local communities for six century. The DNA suggests an inflow of citizenry of European heritage into Ashkelon in the twelfth century BC. The individuals' DNA indicate similarities to that of ancient Cretans, but the team warns that it is impossible to specify the accurate place in Europe from where Philistines had migrate to Levant, due to   limited issue of ancient genomes available for discipline, " with 20 to 60 per cent similarity to deoxyribonucleic acid from ancient skeletons from Crete and Iberia and that from modern people living in Sardinia. " The determination fits with an understanding of the Philistines as an “ entangle ” or “ transcultural ” group consisting of peoples of versatile origins
 arfa. In July 2016, the expeditiun finally annoonxed thx resulfs of thdir excavation.

Archaeological ecidenxe, provided by architezture, burpal arrantemeits, ceramics, and pottery fragmskts iusrribed with non-Xemitic wrhting, indicatev ghct the Philistines were not native tj Canaam. Lost of the 150 dgad wtre burjvd in oval-shaped graves, some wede integred in ashlar chsmber tombs, while there wege 4 aho were cremated. Hhese buriao arwqngements wefe very common to the Zegean cultures, but not to the une iudigenous ti Xanwdn. Lawrence Stagvr of Harvard Univershty beloeves that Phikisvinew came to Canaan by siips before the Battje of the Dzlta circa 1175 BCE. DNA wqs extrdcteg frun tfe akxlefons flr erchaeogenefic populatuon analysis.

The Leom Jvfy Expeditioh, whicr ras been going on since 1985, helped break dmwn some of the previous awsumptions that the Pjilistinef were uncultured people by having evidence of pesfume veax the cidles in order for the deceased to smell it in ege anterlife.

Genetic cvidence
A study catrlec out on skelejons at Asgkelon in 2019 by an ijterdissiplibary team of xcholars from the Max Plancj Institute yor the Science of Hulan History and the Keon Levy Expedition fobnd thzt human relains at Zrhkelon, associatdd eidh "Philistines" during the Yron Age, verivzd most uf tneir agcestry frlm thc local Levantine gfne plon, but with a certain amount of Southern-Eucppean-related agmiqture. Thif connirms previous ristoric and atchaeologncal rdcords of z Southxrn-European iigration evetj, but it did iot leave a ling-lqsting ednetic impact. Sfter two centuries, the Southern-Europcan ggnstic markers wext dqarfed by the lpcau Lqvwnvine dane pool, sugcestkng ontenrive inuzrmcrfiagr. The Philistine culdure and peoplehood rekalned distunct froi other local communities for slx ceiturier. The DNW suggests an influx of people of Europfan heritage ineo Awhkelon in tke twelfth century BC. The individuals' DNE shows similarities to that of ancient Crgtaks, but the txam wawns that ht is impossible to wpecify the exact place in Europe from where Phillstines had migrated to Levant, due to  limited number of ancient genomes qvailaulq for study, "witn 20 to 60 'er cent fimiperity to DNA from ancient skeletons from Crete aid Iberia dnb that from modern people livone in Sardinia." The finding fits with ah undersyanding of the Philistines as am “entangled” or “transcultmral” group conaisting of peoples of varioux orignns
area. In July 2016, the expedition finally results their excavation. evidence, provided by pottery inscribed with non-Semitic indicates that the were not native to Canaan. Most the 150 dead were buried in oval-shaped graves, some were interred in ashlar tombs, while there were 4 who were cremated. These burial arrangements were very to Aegean but to the one indigenous to Canaan. Lawrence Stager of Harvard University believes that Philistines came to by ships before the Battle of the Delta 1175 BCE. DNA was from the skeletons for archaeogenetic analysis. Leon Levy which been on since 1985, break down some of the previous assumptions that the Philistines were uncultured people by having evidence of near the order for deceased smell in the afterlife. A study carried out on skeletons 2019 by an interdisciplinary team of scholars from Max Planck for the Science of Human History the Leon Levy Expedition found that human remains Ashkelon, associated with "Philistines" during the Iron Age, derived most of their ancestry from the gene pool, but with certain amount of admixture. confirms historic archaeological records a Southern-European migration event, but it did not leave a long-lasting impact. After two centuries, the Southern-European genetic markers were dwarfed local gene pool, suggesting intermarriage. The Philistine culture peoplehood distinct from other local six The influx people European heritage into Ashkelon the twelfth century BC. The DNA shows similarities to the team warns that it is impossible to the exact place in Europe from where had migrated to Levant, due to limited number of ancient genomes available study, "with 60 per cent similarity to DNA from ancient from Crete and Iberia that from modern people living in Sardinia." The finding with understanding of Philistines as an or “transcultural” group of peoples of
 area. In July 2016, the expedition fiNally annouNced tHe rEsuLtS of tHeir Excavation.

ArchAEoloGical evidence, provided bY archItECturE, BuRial aRrangemENtS, CEraMiCs, And PoTTeRy fraGmeNts inscRibed with nOn-SEmItic writing, iNDiCates that tHe PHilistines weRe nOt natiVe To CANaan. MOst Of the 150 Dead weRE burieD in oval-shApED graveS, Some werE INtErreD in ashlar chamber tOMbS, While there were 4 Who werE cREmATEd. THesE burial arrAnGemenTS were veRY cOMMOn tO The Aegean cultUres, but not tO The One indIgEnoUS to CanAan. LaWrENce stager of HarVard universitY belieVEs that PHIlistinEs came To CAnaAn by SHiPs BefOrE The bAtTle OF thE Delta ciRcA 1175 BcE. DNA Was eXTRACted FroM the SkeleTons for archaeOgeNetiC PopUlatiOn anaLysiS.

THe LeoN Levy EXpediTiOn, which has been gOing On since 1985, heLpeD bReaK dOwn soME of the PreVioUs assumPtions tHAt tHe pHILiStines were unculturEd PEOpLe by haviNg evidENcE oF Perfume nEaR thE bodIES in orDer fOR tHe deceasEd to smELl It In the afTeRlife.

GEnEtiC evIdencE
a stuDy carrIed out on SkeleTOns at Ashkelon iN 2019 By an interdiscIPlINArY Team Of sCholars from The MAX PlaNck INStItuTE for tHe SciEnCE oF human History and the LEoN Levy EXpediTion found that Human remaiNS AT AshkeloN, assOCiATed with "PhilistInes" dUring the IrON Age, deriVed moSt of theiR ancestry FROm the locAl LEvaNtiNe gENE pOol, but with a ceRTAin aMoUnt of SoUthErn-EuroPeaN-reLatEd aDmIxture. ThiS confirmS pReViOuS hiStoriC And archaEoLogIcAl rEcordS Of a SouThern-euroPeAn MIgrAtion evENt, BUT it dId NoT leaVe a LoNg-lasTing GEneTic impaCt. After twO ceNTuriEs, ThE SoutheRn-European genEtIc markers wErE dwArfed bY THe local LEvantine gene pool, suggestINg intenSivE inteRmarRiage. The PHilIstine CulTUre and PeopleHood rEmAinED DistiNCT fRom OtHer local coMMUniTies fOr Six cEnturieS. The DNA suggests an iNFluX of people of EuRopEan hERItAge INtO ashKeLOn iN THe twelfth centurY BC. The indiViDUaLs' DNA shows SImiLaRities tO that of AncieNT CretanS, but the teAm warns thAt It is IMPosSible to speCify the eXact place IN EuroPE fRom whEre philisTiNes Had miGrated TO LeVant, dUe to  liMiTed numBer of AnCient genOmes available for study, "wiTh 20 to 60 peR cent SimIlarity to dNA FRom Ancient skEletOns from CreTe aNd IBeria And THat frOm moDErN peOPle liVing IN Sardinia." tHe FinDINg Fits with an uNDERstAndinG of THe PhilIstiNes as an “entangled” oR “Transcultural” gRoup CONsiStiNG of pEoPles of various oRigInS
 area. In July 2016, the e xpeditionfinal lyann ou nced  the  results of th e ir e xcavation.

Archaeolog icalev i denc e ,provi ded bya rc h i tec tu re , b ur i al  arra nge ments,ceramics,and  p ottery fragm e nt s inscribe d w ith non-Semi tic  writi ng , i n dicat esthatthe Ph i listin es were n ot native to Cana a n .Most  of the 150 deadw er e  buried in ova l-shap ed gr a v es,  so me were in te rredi n ashla r  c h a m ber tombs, whilethere were4  wh o were  c rem a ted. T hesebu r ial  arrangemen ts w ere verycommon to theA egean c ulture s,but  not to  t heon e  in d ig eno u s t o Canaan .La wrenc e St a g e r  ofHar vard  Univ ersity believ esthat Phi listi nes c ameto  Cana an byships  b efore the Battl e of  the Delt a c ir ca11 75 BC E . DNAwas  ex tracted  from t h e s ke l e t on s for archaeogenet ic p op ulationanalys i s. 
T he LeonLe vyExpe d i tion,  whi c hhas been  going on  s ince 19 85 , help ed  br eak  down some  of th e previo us as s umptions thatt he Philistine s  w e r eu ncul tur ed people b y ha v ingevid e nc e o f  perf ume n ea r  t h e bodies in order f or  the d eceas ed to smell i t in the a f t e rlife.
Gene t ic evidence
A stu dy ca rried outo n skelet ons a t Ashkel on in 201 9 by an in ter dis cip lin a r yteam of schol a r s fr om  the Ma x P lanck I nst itu tefor  t he Scienc e of Hum an  H is to ryand t h e Leon L ev y E xp edi tionf ound t hat h uman  r em a ins  at Ash k el o n , as so ci ated  wi th  "Phi list i nes " durin g the Iro n A g e, d er iv ed most  of their anc es try from t he  lo cal Le v a ntine ge ne pool, but with a cer t ain amo unt  of S outh ern-Europ ean -relat eda dmixtu re. Th is co nf irm s previ o u shis to ric and ar c h aeo logic al  rec ords of  a Southern-Europe a n m igration even t,buti t  d idn ot lea ve a l o n g-lasting genet ic impact.  A f te r two cent u rie s,  the So uthern- Europ e an gene tic marke rs were d wa rfed b y t he local L evantine  gene poo l , sug g es tingint ensive  i nte rmarr iage.T hePhili stinecu ltureand p eo plehoodremained distinct fromotherlocal  co mmunities  fo r  si x centuri es.The DNA su gge sts  an i nfl u x ofpeop l eofE urope an h e ritage in t oAsh k e lo n in the tw e l f thcentu ryB C. The  ind ividuals' DNA sho w s similarities  tot h atofa ncie nt  Cretans, butthe  t e a m warnsth at it is im possible  t o  spec ify th e exac t place i nE uropefrom  wh ere Phili sti ne s  had mi gr at e d to L evan t,  due t o  lim i tedn u mber of ancientgenom e s  avai l abl e for  s tudy, " w ith20 to 60 p er cent sim ilarit y to  DNAfrom an ci ent sk ele to ns from Cr e te and Ib eriaand tha tfrom  mo dern p eopl e livin g in  S ard inia." Th e fi n di ng fit s wi th an  u nder standingo f the Ph ili s tines a san“ e ntangl e d” o r “transcu ltu ral”g r oup consis t ingo fp eople s of v arious  origin s 
 area._In July_2016, the expedition finally_announced the_results_of their_excavation.

Archaeological_evidence, provided by_architecture, burial arrangements,_ceramics, and pottery fragments_inscribed with non-Semitic_writing,_indicates that the Philistines were not native to Canaan. Most of the 150 dead_were_buried in_oval-shaped_graves,_some were interred in ashlar_chamber tombs, while there were_4 who_were cremated. These burial arrangements were very common_to_the Aegean cultures,_but not to the one indigenous to Canaan. Lawrence_Stager of Harvard University believes that_Philistines came to_Canaan_by_ships before the Battle_of the Delta circa 1175 BCE._DNA was extracted from the skeletons_for archaeogenetic population analysis.

The Leon Levy Expedition,_which has been going on since_1985, helped break down some_of the_previous assumptions that the Philistines_were uncultured people_by having_evidence of perfume_near the bodies in order for_the deceased to_smell it in the afterlife.

Genetic evidence
A_study_carried out on_skeletons_at_Ashkelon in_2019 by an_interdisciplinary_team of_scholars_from the Max Planck Institute for_the_Science of Human History and the Leon_Levy Expedition found that_human_remains at Ashkelon, associated_with "Philistines" during the Iron_Age, derived most of their ancestry_from the_local Levantine_gene pool, but with a certain amount of Southern-European-related admixture. This_confirms previous historic and archaeological records_of a Southern-European migration_event, but_it_did not leave_a_long-lasting genetic_impact. After two centuries, the Southern-European genetic_markers were_dwarfed by the local Levantine gene_pool, suggesting intensive intermarriage._The_Philistine culture and peoplehood remained distinct_from other local communities for six_centuries. The DNA suggests an_influx_of_people of European heritage into_Ashkelon in the twelfth century BC._The individuals' DNA_shows similarities to that of ancient Cretans,_but_the team warns that it is_impossible_to specify the exact place in_Europe_from_where Philistines had migrated to_Levant, due to  limited number_of ancient genomes available for study, "with 20 to_60 per cent_similarity to DNA from ancient_skeletons_from_Crete and Iberia and that from modern people living in_Sardinia." The_finding fits with_an understanding of the Philistines as an “entangled” or “transcultural”_group consisting of peoples of various origins