Who are the Canaanites?‎ New Contexts and Concepts

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2025.8273

Keywords:

Canaanites, ancient history of Palestine, methods of critique and innovation, biblical archeology, genetic studies.

Abstract

Objectives: This research aims to provide an alternative perspective on the definition of the Canaanites, their origins, and their fate, within the framework of new contexts and concepts introduced by modern critical methodologies focused on renewal, especially in relation to history and archaeology. The research seeks to rely on scientific and credible historical sources to obtain data and information about the Canaanites and their history.

Methods: The research adopts a new approach based on genetic genealogy and genetic engineering, in addition to modern methodologies in the fields of history and archaeology.

Results: The research highlights the weakness and lack of credibility of classical literature and studies regarding the nature and definition of the Canaanites, particularly those influenced by biblical narratives. In contrast, the research emphasizes the importance of the opposing perspectives provided by critical intellectual approaches from the school of biblical archaeology, although these perspectives have not yet offered definitive conclusions on the subject.

Conclusion: The research concludes with a definitive definition of the Canaanites in terms of their origins and fate, based on modern genetic studies, as well as findings from recent, neutral historical and archaeological research. These studies have scientifically proven that the Canaanites were an indigenous people in their land, known as the land of Canaan (present-day Levant), and that they are the natural and biological descendants of their Natufian ancestors. Furthermore, the Canaanites were not exterminated or eradicated, but their presence continued through the contemporary populations of the Levant up to the present day.

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References

Agranat-Tamir, L., et al. (2020). The genomic history of the Bronze Age southern Levant. Science, 181(5), 1146–1157.

Feldman, M., et al. (2019). Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines. Science Advances, 5(7), 1-10.

Harney, É., et al. (2018). Ancient DNA from Chalcolithic Israel reveals the role of population mixture in cultural transformation. Nature Communications, 9(1), 1-11.

Haber, M., et al. (2017). Continuity and admixture in the last five millennia of Levantine history from ancient Canaanite and present-day Lebanese genome sequences. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 101(2), 274-282.

Lazaridis, I., et al. (2016). Genomic insights into the origin of farming in the ancient Near East. Nature Communications, 536(7617), 1-33.

Lemche, N. P. (1991). The Canaanites and their land: The tradition of the Canaanites. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 110. JSOT Press.

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Published

2025-09-01

How to Cite

Zakarneh, F. S. (2025). Who are the Canaanites?‎ New Contexts and Concepts. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 53(2), 8273. https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2025.8273

Issue

Section

History
Received 2024-07-16
Accepted 2024-09-29
Published 2025-09-01