Mitochondrial DNA is inherited exclusively through the maternal line — from mother to children, with only the mother’s mtDNA passed on.

This means that the mtDNA haplogroup of an individual traces their maternal genealogy: the line of mothers extending back through time.

For population genetic studies, mtDNA haplogroups serve as markers that can be traced across geographic and temporal space to understand patterns of maternal ancestry.

NUE001’s mitochondrial haplogroup is I, specifically the sub-clade N1a1b2.

This haplogroup is found today at relatively low frequencies in North Africa and West Asia, with the highest concentrations in areas of the Middle East and the southern Mediterranean.

The N1a family of haplogroups is a particularly interesting one in the context of ancient population history.