Although the Canary Islands were settled by humans, possibly of Berber orig
in, as late as 2500 years ago, the precise course and numbers of early migr
ations to the archipelago remain controversial. We have therefore analysed
mtDNA variation (HVS-I as well as selected RFLP sites) in 300 individuals f
rom the seven Canary Islands. The distribution and variation across the isl
ands in a specific mtDNA clade of Northwest African ancestry suggest that t
here was one dominant initial settlement process that affected all the isla
nds, from east to west. This indicates that a certain genetic affinity of p
resent-day Canary Islanders to Northwest African Berbers mainly stems from
the autochthonous population rather than slaves captured on the neighbourin
g African coast. The slave trade after the European conquest left measurabl
e, though minor, traces in the mtDNA pool of the Canary Islands, which in i
ts majority testifies to the European immigration.