Ancient Mitogenomes Reveal Population Interactions with HighMaternal Genetic Diversity in the Central Plains of China duringthe Late Neolithic Period

The Central Plains region of China was one of the earliest domestication hubs for broomcorn and foxtail millet. This region nurtured rich archaeological cultures and experienced extensive interactions with neighboring populations during the Neolithic period. However, limited genomic research has hindered a clear understanding of the maternal genetic structure and population expansion history in this era. Here, we report 12 complete mitochondrial genomes from individuals of the Yanzhai site population from the Henan Province of China during the Longshan culture period, revealing a high level of maternal genetic diversity. The close genetic distance between these individuals and ancient populations from the Yellow River basin highlights the maternal genetic continuity since the late Neolithic period. Furthermore, our research uncovers multiple population expansion events driven by various factors, which may have contributed to the genetic composition of modern East Asian populations. In summary, our study provides a new perspective on the genetic origins and demographic dynamics of the Central Plains region during the late Neolithic period.