A genetic cluster, not one tribe
WHG is a research label for related post-glacial foragers spread across parts of western and central Europe.
Ancient DNA affinity · Post-glacial western Europe
Western Hunter-Gatherer ancestry calculator from raw DNA
Compare your raw DNA with Western Hunter-Gatherer-related ancestry, often abbreviated WHG in ancient-DNA studies and hobbyist calculators.
Free comparisonUpload not retainedTransparent f4 method
Timelinec. 12,000–5,000 BCE
15,000 BCE10,000 BCE5,000 BCEPresent
Two ancient sources
This page averages Loschbour and a Swiss Epipalaeolithic reference instead of depending on one individual.
One layer of later European ancestry
WHG-related ancestry persisted and mixed with incoming early farmers and, later, steppe-related populations.
Free ancient-DNA comparison
Compare your DNA with Western Hunter-Gatherer (WHG).
The fixed ancient and modern references are precomputed. The request processes only the markers observed in your uploaded autosomal DNA file.
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Understanding Western Hunter-Gatherer (WHG) ancestry.
Western Hunter-Gatherer is a genetic label for related post-glacial forager groups in western and central Europe, rather than the name of one tribe. The label is commonly anchored on Villabruna-related ancestry and includes Mesolithic populations associated with cultures such as the Epigravettian, Azilian, Federmesser and later Mesolithic groups.
Why it matters
WHG-related ancestry forms one of the main deep ancestry layers used to describe the formation of later Europeans, alongside early farmer and steppe-related ancestry. Its amount and distribution varied substantially by region and period, so this result should be read as relative affinity to the reference profile rather than a direct ancestry share.
Where did Western Hunter-Gatherers live?
WHG-related foragers occupied varied environments across post-glacial western and central Europe. The genetic label spans multiple archaeological cultures, places and periods rather than describing a single uniform people.
How did WHG ancestry enter later Europeans?
Early farmers arriving from Anatolia mixed with local hunter-gatherer groups to different degrees. Later Bronze Age population movements added steppe-related ancestry, leaving WHG as one of several deep components in European population history.
What WHG affinity does—and does not—mean
Greater relative affinity means your profile shares more drift with this pooled WHG reference than a selected modern comparator does. It does not identify a specific Mesolithic ancestor, culture or percentage.
Common questions
Western Hunter-Gatherer (WHG) ancestry FAQ.
What does WHG mean in ancient DNA?
WHG stands for Western Hunter-Gatherer, a genetic label for related post-glacial European foragers. It is not the historical name of a tribe.
Is WHG ancestry found only in western Europe?
No. WHG-related ancestry contributed to later populations across much of Europe, although its distribution and amount varied by region and period.
Is Loschbour the same as every WHG population?
No. Loschbour is an important reference individual, but WHG populations were not genetically identical. This calculator therefore combines two available references.
Does stronger WHG affinity prove a recent hunter-gatherer ancestor?
No. The signal concerns deep shared population history and cannot establish a recent genealogical ancestor.
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