Forty-eight ancient genomes from Pietrele Măgura Gorgana provide a meaningful, though not exhaustive, window into the population biology of the Gumelnița horizon. Maternal lineages are dominated by common European mtDNA haplogroups—H (8), K (6), T (4) and subclades such as T2b and K1a—patterns consistent with longstanding Neolithic maternal continuity in the region. These mtDNA profiles align with archaeological indications of persistent local communities and suggest maternal ancestry largely derived from earlier southeast European farming populations.
Paternal diversity is notable. Y-DNA haplogroups detected include V88 (6), Z (5), PF (4), L (4) and P (4). The presence of V88 is intriguing because this lineage appears in a range of ancient and modern contexts and has been discussed in broader discussions of gene flow between Europe and regions to the south; however, small counts for specific Y-lineages mean interpretations must be cautious. Haplogroups labeled PF and P point to branches related to major West Eurasian paternal pools, while Z and L indicate additional complexity and possible long-distance connections.
Because some haplogroup counts are small (many lineages represented by fewer than 10 samples), conclusions about population structure and migration corridors are preliminary. Still, the combined picture—local maternal continuity with a patchwork of paternal lineages—suggests a community shaped by regional ancestry and intermittent influxes of males or male-mediated contacts. Integrating isotopic mobility studies, broader comparative aDNA datasets, and future sampling will sharpen these genetic inferences.
