The Old Lady spider cave skeletons in Ladakh have diverse maternal genetic origin

Abstract

The archaeological evidence in Ladakh, show early settlement and complex cultural and demographic shifts caused by human migration along the Silk Route corridor, but genetic traces have been entirely absent. To fill this gap, our current study reconstructed complete mitogenomes from ancient individuals found at the Old Lady spider cave site. Our detailed analysis of mitogenomes revealed a highly diverse gene pool that includes maternal lineages associated with East Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. Bayesian evolutionary analysis, haplotype networks, and divergence times link the C4a1 lineage to East Asia and Siberia, possibly indicating traces of Silk Route migration. Furthermore, these analyses link the H2a1a lineage to recent arrival from Central Asia, while the U7a lineage to a Hazara-like group in Pakistan. These findings point to the maternal genetic imprints of multiple migrations and occupation of the Lady spider cave site in Ladakh by people of diverse maternal lineage.