Thirty ancient genomes from Baden‑Württemberg sites dated 616–200 BCE provide a moderate-sized window into Hallstatt‑era ancestry. The recovered Y‑chromosome diversity — notably lineages labeled CTS (5), P (3), Z (3), L (2), and FGC (2) in this sample set — indicates multiple paternal ancestries present within the region. Mitochondrial diversity is dominated by common European matrilineal clades (H, K, J, U, T), with H the most frequent (five individuals).
These genetic signals dovetail with archaeological evidence for mobility and exchange. Y‑chromosome heterogeneity can reflect patrilineal migration, male‑mediated mobility, or local retention of multiple lineages over generations. mtDNA continuity with broader European lineages suggests substantial maternal continuity in the region, though maternal gene flow from neighboring areas cannot be excluded. Importantly, sample sizes and spatial coverage — 30 individuals across several sites — provide moderate resolution: they reveal regional heterogeneity but do not capture the full demographic complexity.
Interpretation is tempered by methodological caveats. Ancient DNA preservation varies by burial context; some subgroups are underrepresented. Where counts of specific haplogroups are low, conclusions remain provisional. Future sequencing of additional individuals and genomic comparisons with contemporaneous populations (Mediterranean, Alpine, and North/Central European) will clarify degrees of continuity, admixture, and population movement during the Hallstatt era.
