The seven Kangju-associated individuals provide a compact but informative genetic snapshot. Maternal lineages are diverse: mtDNA A (2), C (1) — lineages commonly associated with East Eurasian ancestry — alongside U (2), H (1), and HV (1), which are typical of West Eurasian maternal pools. This mixture indicates female-line contributions from both eastern and western Eurasian sources in the Kangju-era population.
On the paternal side the reported Y-chromosome haplogroups include R (3) and T (1). Haplogroup R is widespread across West Eurasia and the steppe and can reflect deep western Eurasian male ancestry. Haplogroup T is less common but is found in parts of the Near East and Central Asia, signaling additional threads of connection. Notably, only four Y calls are reported, so the paternal picture is incomplete.
Because the sample count is below ten, these patterns must be considered provisional. Small-n effects can skew apparent frequencies, and autosomal data (genome-wide ancestry) would be needed to quantify admixture proportions and timing. Nevertheless, the contrast between mixed maternal diversity and a male signal leaning toward West Eurasian-associated Y lineages is consistent with sex-biased admixture scenarios observed elsewhere on the steppe: episodes of incoming male-mediated gene flow, local female continuity, or complex marriage networks. Future sampling across more Kangju sites in the Tian Shan will be essential to test these hypotheses.
