Lichtenstein Cave


The Lichtenstein Cave, discovered in 1972, is an archaeological cave site near Dorste, Lower Saxony, Germany with a length of. The skeletal remains of 21 female humans and 19 males, dated to the Bronze Age, about 3,000 years ago were discovered. In addition, around 100 bronze objects and ceramic parts from the Urnfield Culture were found.

Ancient DNA Tests

Both mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA tests were conducted on the skeletons and published by the University of Göttingen. Mitochondrial haplogroups found included 17 from H, 5 from T2, 9 from U5b and 5 from J*. Out of the 19 males represented in the cave, 15 yielded the full 12 tested STR values, with twelve showing haplotypes related to I2b2, two to R1a, and one to R1b predicted haplogroups. Y-STR results are given in the table below:
HT39339019391385a385b439389i392389ii437438ΣHg
Y11325161113171112112815106I2b2
Y21325151113171112112715103I2b2
Y31323141111141213132915121R1b
Y4----12---101I2b2
Y513251511111113113014112R1a
Y61324161113171112112815103I2b2
nd------------3-

= allele unsure or assignment of an individual, nd = not determined