Maternal line · mitochondrial DNA
The line that walked out of Africa
mtDNA L3
Where it is common today
East Africa — the lineage whose branches left Africa about 60,000 years ago.
Ancient people who carried it
71 ancient genomes in the Allen Ancient DNA Resource carry this line. The oldest is from Dukanet el Ketif, Tunisia, around 4,840 BC.
- Mtwapa, KenyaAD 1,440 – AD 1,66013 people
- Cemetery for Enslaved at Catoctin Furnace, USAAD 1,810 – AD 1,82012 people
- Songo Mnara, TanzaniaAD 1,420 – AD 1,6405 people
- Makwasinyi, KenyaAD 1,800 – AD 1,8805 people
- Gishimangeda Cave, Tanzania460 BC – 110 BC2 people
- San José de los Naturales Royal Hospital mass burial, MexicoAD 1,450 – AD 1,5402 people
- Philipsburg, Sint MaartenAD 1,650 – AD 1,7702 people
- Dukanet el Ketif, Tunisia4,840 BC1 people
- Březno-u-Loun, Czechia3,870 BC1 people
- Vliněves, Czechia2,700 BC1 people
- Mota Cave, Ethiopia2,520 BC1 people
- Kokurmatakore Cairn, Kenya2,250 BC1 people
Find your own line
Upload the raw data file from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or a whole-genome test. It is read on your device, and it is free.
Read my DNANo DNA test yet?
The HealthOS DNA Kit reads your maternal line, your paternal (Y) line if you have a Y chromosome, your ancestry across 15 regions and the ancient peoples you sit closest to. Spit in a tube at home; the lab is in Germany and the raw file is yours.
See the DNA kit