Proto-Somali

The Puntites were ancient Somalis who are believed to traded myrrh, spices, gold, ebony, short-horned cattle, ivory and frankincense with the Ancient Egyptians and ancient Mesopotamia through their commercial ports. An Ancient Egyptian expedition sent to Punt by the 18th dynasty Queen Hatshepsut is recorded on the temple reliefs at Deir el-Bahari, during the reign of the Puntite King Parahu and Queen Ati.[3]

In the classical era, the Macrobians, who have been ancestral to the Automoli or ancient Somalis, established a powerful tribal kingdom that ruled large parts of modern Somalia. They were reputed for their longevity and wealth, and were said to be the "tallest and handsomest of all men".[4] The Macrobians were warrior herders and seafarers. According to Herodotus' account, the Persian Emperor Cambyses II, upon his conquest of Egypt (525 BC), sent ambassadors to Macrobia, bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission. The Macrobian ruler, who was elected based on his stature and beauty, replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow: if the Persians could manage to draw it, they would have the right to invade his country; but until then, they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.[4][5] The Macrobians were a regional power reputed for their advanced architecture and gold wealth, which was so plentiful that they shackled their prisoners in golden chains.[5] The Harla an extinct people credited for building various monuments in the Horn Africa are possible candidates of Proto-Somali.[6]

After the collapse of Macrobia, several proto-Somali ancient wealthy city-states emerged, such as Malao, Mundus, Mosylon and Opone which competed with the Sabaeans, Parthians and Axumites for the wealthy Indo-Greco-Roman trade, also flourished in Somalia.[7] Somali sailors and merchants were the main suppliers of gold, silva, gemstones, frankincense, myrrh, acacia gum, salt, livestock, ivory, feathers, hide (skin) and spices, items which were considered valuable luxuries.

Other notable proto-Somali city-states included Avalite, Bulhar, Botiala, Essina, Damo, Hannassa, Sarapion, Nikon, Toniki, Gondal, Macajilayn, Salweyn and Miandi.

In Somalis, the Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated to be 4000–5000 years (2,500 BCE) for the haplogroup E-M78 cluster γ and 2100–2200 years (150 BCE) for Somali T-M184 bearers.[8]

Deep subclade E-Y18629 is commonly found in Somalis and has a formation date of 3,700 YBP (years before present) and a TMRCA of 3,300 YBP.[9]

There have been many examples of proto-Somali states. Some of these include:

• Sesea
• Ajan Coast
• Rauso
• Aromata
• Macrobians
• Land of Punt

Soo maal is "Samaale", the name of the man they descended.It has been described as a testament to the mixture of nomadic and pastoral culture of Somalis. However some traditional Somalis dispute this etymological explanation arguing instead that the term Somali derives from an ancient ancestor called Samaale.[10] According to some scholars, the term stuck since the proto-Somali era, when Hellenic and Greek explorers came across the term while in contact with proto-Somalis.[11] Other scholars attribute the term "soo maal" to the historically hospitable nature of proto-Somalis in ancient eras who would invite guests to drink milk from their various varieties of livestock.[12] In the modern era, this interpretation differs depending on region with northern Somalis implying it refers to camel milk in general, or the she-camel in specifics,[13] while southern Somalis use the transliteration "sa maal" which refers to cow's milk.[14] More common historians attribute the phrase as having been coined by ancient Egyptian expatriates in the Horn of Africa who returned to Egypt calling it the "land of do the milking".[15] During this era, "soo maal" was also used as a greeting among towards guests.[16]

Another proposed etymological origin has been "zu maal", deriving from the Arabic term roughly meaning "possessor of wealth", however this etymological explanation has less substance.[17]