The clade is believed to have originated around 9,800 years ago in the Near East and spread all over Europe via Iberia. Haplogroup V is a relatively rare mtDNA haplogroup, occurring in around 4% of native Europeans. Its highest concentration is among the Saami people of northern Scandinavia (~59%). It has been found at a frequency of approximately 10% among the Maris of the Volga-Ural region, leading to the suggestion that this region might be the source of the V among the Saami. Additionally, haplogroup V has been observed at higher than average levels among Cantabrian people (15%) of northern Iberia, and at a lower percentage among the adjacent Basque (10.4%). Haplogroup V is also found in parts of Northwest … Continue reading The mystery of Haplogroup V (mtDNA)