Levantine Neolithic people appear to have left isolated traces of offspring in various parts of Europe, whilst having little overall genetic impact on early European populations. However, their DNA appears in some of the most striking archaeological samples, so might their impact have outweighed their genetic contributions?
As an example, the Varna chief ANI152 buried c. 4,500 BC with the largest horde of gold ever found in an ancient grave. His DNA looks 50:50 Levantine:East European; his yDNA T(xT1) Levantine; his mtDNA U2 steppic. Given his phylogeny, his autosomal mix and the cross-datings between Varna samples, I would best-estimate his genetic ancestry as something along these lines -
Great great grandparents (father's side) - all Levantine (including yDNA source).
Great great grandparents (mother's side) - Romanian Tisza x 6, and Ukrainian Neolithic x 1 mixed with SC Steppe Khvalynsk (including mtDNA source, R1b-derived) x 1.
How and why might ANI152's paternal ancestor/s have migrated to Bulgaria all the way from the Levant?
How might such an outsider of diverse ethnicity as him have achieved such high status and acquired such wealth in Varna?
(Additional features of note:
1. ANI152's maternal ancestral best-fit sources help trace a possible SW movement of Khvalynsk/Suvorovo through Ukraine and Romania
2. It shows Khvalynsk/Suvorovo as likely admixing, rather than exclusively raiding and conflicting
3. It suggests that westwards-migrating steppic lineages were not exclusively males mating with local females, but also females mating with local males.
4. It identfies Varna as a likely ethnic melting pot.)
As an example, the Varna chief ANI152 buried c. 4,500 BC with the largest horde of gold ever found in an ancient grave. His DNA looks 50:50 Levantine:East European; his yDNA T(xT1) Levantine; his mtDNA U2 steppic. Given his phylogeny, his autosomal mix and the cross-datings between Varna samples, I would best-estimate his genetic ancestry as something along these lines -
Great great grandparents (father's side) - all Levantine (including yDNA source).
Great great grandparents (mother's side) - Romanian Tisza x 6, and Ukrainian Neolithic x 1 mixed with SC Steppe Khvalynsk (including mtDNA source, R1b-derived) x 1.
How and why might ANI152's paternal ancestor/s have migrated to Bulgaria all the way from the Levant?
How might such an outsider of diverse ethnicity as him have achieved such high status and acquired such wealth in Varna?
(Additional features of note:
1. ANI152's maternal ancestral best-fit sources help trace a possible SW movement of Khvalynsk/Suvorovo through Ukraine and Romania
2. It shows Khvalynsk/Suvorovo as likely admixing, rather than exclusively raiding and conflicting
3. It suggests that westwards-migrating steppic lineages were not exclusively males mating with local females, but also females mating with local males.
4. It identfies Varna as a likely ethnic melting pot.)