Takarkori mummies represent vanished isolated North African human lineage. Genomic signature faint in modern North Africans. Close genetic links to 15,000-year-old Taforalt hunter-gatherers. 93% ancestry from unknown ancient North African population. Only 0.15% Neanderthal DNA versus 0.6-0.9% in later North Africans. Early North Africans remained predominantly isolated. Traces of Neanderthal from small outside-Africa gene flow. Green Sahara not a migration corridor to sub-Saharan Africa. Takarkori lineage split from sub-Saharans around 50,000 years ago. Zero gene contribution from south of Sahara. Isolation drove modern North African genomic landscape. Pastoralism spread via cultural exchange not migration. Ancestry distinct from other groups despite minor out-of-Africa admixture. Stable hunter-gatherer population persisted through Green Sahara humid period. Arid conditions preserved rare DNA for sequencing.