Medieval horse mitogenomes
Background: This study presents the sequencing and analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes from nine Early Medieval horse remains excavated across archaeological sites in Silesia region in present day Poland. Methods: Using aDNA extraction protocols optimized for short fragments, combined with target enrichment and high-throughput sequencing, we reconstructed partial mtDNA sequences for seven of the specimens. Results: The authenticity of the aDNA was confirmed through damage pattern analysis. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the speci-mens belonged to six distinct mtDNA lineages (B, D, E, G, L, and M), indicating a high level of mi-tochondrial diversity within Medieval Silesian horse population. Conclusions: These findings highlight the extensive mtDNA variability among domestic horses, reflecting the diversity of their ancestral populations rather than modern breed differentiation. This research enhances our under-standing of horse population structure in medieval Europe, emphasizing the genetic complexity present during this period.