Hunter-gatherer genetic persistence at the onset of megalithism in western Iberia: New mitochondrial evidence from Mesolithic and Neolithic necropolises in central-southern Portugal

Despite its strategic importance at the furthermost edge of Neolithic expansion in Europe, archaeogenetic data from Mesolithic and human remains Portugal are still very limited. Here we present ancient mtDNA evidence (mostly unpublished) to fill gap discuss pattern “genetic resurgence” hunter-gatherer (Mesolithic) ancestry, widely reported elsewhere among first megalith builders (Middle Neolithic) western Iberia. A total 11 necropolises located central southern regions dated ca. 6200–3000 BC were studied. These sites comprise all Mesolithic–Neolithic cultural stages include several funerary architectures spaces. Reproducible HVRI haplotypes obtained 23 individuals six different archaeological spread across a >3000-year transect, Late Neolithic. Our results support three-stage explanatory demographic populational model: i) local populations constituted highly homogeneous genetic pool; ii) farming practices introduced by groups carrying new, extraneous haplogroups exhibiting signature admixture events occurring time contact with hunter-gatherers; iii) detected megalith-building populations, showing along may be explained segmentary principles, attendant endogamic practices, that structured societies.