Different DNA extraction methods were used, repeatedly validating the results per sample123638. MtDNA hypervariable segment I (HVS- I) and coding region positions were amplified in several PCRs in a total volume of 40 μl reaction mix, containing 5 μl DNA extract, 1× AmpliTaq Gold-Buffer; 2 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase (Applied Biosystems); 200 μM of each of the dNTP ; 25 pmolμl−1 primer; 1.5 mM MgCl2; 4mgml−1 BSA. The HVS-I region of mtDNA was amplified in two overlapping fragments with two sets of primers, and an additional 16 primer pairs were used to amplify haplogroup-diagnostic nucleotide positions in coding regions (see Supplementary Table S2). Cycling parameters were 98 °C for 10 min; followed by 39 cycles of denaturation at 98 °C for 30 s, annealing at 56 °C for 1 min, and extension at 72 °C for 40 s; and a final step of 72 °C for 5 min. PCR products were checked on 8% native polyacrylamide gel. The PCR products were purified using QIAquick® PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s protocol, or purified from 2% agarose gel with Bioline Isolate PCR & Gel Kit in a final volume of 15 μl. Sequencing reactions were performed using the ABI PRISM BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit (Applied Biosystems) and sequencing products were purified by ethanol precipitation. The sequences were determined on ABI PRISM 3100 (PE Applied Biosystems) in cooperation with BIOMI Ltd (Gödöllő, Hungary). The sequences were evaluated with Chromas Lite 2.4.1 and GeneDoc software39.