Table 1 Details of cave bear samples reported in this study. Details of Late Pleistocene European cave bear specimens successfully generating more than threefold coverage and more than 70% complete mitochondrial genomes after in-solution enrichment. Radiocar bon (¹⁴C) dates were calibrated to the Intcal 13 curve⁷⁴ using the rcarbon package⁷⁵. Samples without radiocarbon date are denoted by NA (not available). Radiocarbon dates obtained for this study are marked with an asterisk. Additional information about collagen quality can be found in Table S2.

TU1

Bärenloch, CH

142.4

98.98

eremus

28,415 ± 605^76,77

33,033–31,602

TU2

Bärenloch, CH

275.6

99.3

eremus

NA

TU3

Bärenloch, CH

245.7

99.27

eremus

>40,000^76,77

TU5

Bärenloch, CH

19.7

92.21

eremus

26,745 ± 490^76,77

31,239–30,477

TU6

Bärenloch, CH

32.4

95.59

eremus

NA

TU7

Bärenloch, CH

130.2

98.61

eremus

NA

TU8

Bärenloch, CH

260.3

99.08

eremus

NA

TU76

Casamène, FR

19.2

97.59

spelaeus

NA

TU77

Casamène, FR

79.8

100

ingressus W

47,406 ± 1309*

…−48,913

TU78

Casamène, FR

10.7

89.23

spelaeus

NA

JK3204

Casamène, FR

100.2

99.33

spelaeus

39,456 ± 494*

43,573–42,772

JK3206

Casamène, FR

38.1

99.35

spelaeus

43,890 ± 999*

48,188–46,071

JK3212

Casamène, FR

51.2

99.82

ingressus W

38,153 ± 430*

42,608–42,039

JK3215

Casamène, FR

49.5

99.26

ingressus W

30,518 ± 170*

34,662–34,298

JK3216

Casamène, FR

80.7

99.86

ingressus W

41,366 ± 518*

45,289–44,370

JK1726

Hohle Fels, GER

16.9

97.19

spelaeus

NA

TU151

Vrelska Cave, SRB

97.9

99.36

ingressus SE

40,470 ± 567*

44,532–43,488

TU152

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

75.4

97.8

ingressus SE

48,116 ± 1,432*

…−49,044

TU153

Vrelska Cave, SRB

16.9

90.49

ingressus C

40,595 ± 574*

44,656–43,588

TU154

Vrelska Cave, SRB

22.4

92.6

ingressus SE

45,918 ± 1,093*

…−48,390

TU155

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

125.2

98.44

ingressus SE

45,673 ± 1,067*

…−48,240

TU156

Vrelska Cave, SRB

16.2

94.37

ingressus SE

42,687 ± 740*

46,606–45,240

TU157

Vrelska Cave, SRB

363.5

99.68

ingressus SE

38,330 ± 440*

42,720–42,140

TU158

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

5.1

72.19

ingressus SE

NA

TU163

Vrelska Cave, SRB

44.7

97.76

ingressus SE

44,748 ± 947*

49,101–47,018

TU166

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

80.2

97.65

ingressus SE

46,429 ± 1,167*

…−48,623

TU167

Vrelska Cave, SRB

9.1

87.84

ingressus SE

43,641 ± 826*

47,729–45,978

TU168

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

79.1

98.58

ingressus SE

46,376 ± 1,167*

…−48,594

TU169

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

7.3

83.21

ingressus SE

40,848 ± 590*

44,914–43,814

TU170

Kovačevića Cave, SRB

278.9

98.85

ingressus SE

45,449 ± 1,035*

49,837–47,947

TU172

Vasiljska, SRB

10.2

89.19

ingressus SE

43,027 ± 445*

46,638–45,740

TU173

Smolućka, SRB

6.7

72.59

ingressus SE

30,649 ± 113*

34,747–34,465

TU174

Mirilovska, SRB

32.7

98.68

ingressus SE

28,807 ± 149*

33,252–32,755

TU511

l’Arbreda, ES

5

73.18

spelaeus

NA

TU512

l’Arbreda, ES

15.7

96

spelaeus

NA

TU779

Prélétang, FR

240.7

99.58

spelaeus

NA

TU781

Prélétang, FR

59

99.33

spelaeus

42,400 ± 409^*,77

46,031–45,284

TU782

Prélétang, FR

133.7

99.45

spelaeus

40,423 ± 330^*,77

44,340–43,635

TU783

Prélétang, FR

184.8

99.46

spelaeus

38,742 ± 277^*,77

42,888–42,481

TU784

Prélétang, FR

324.5

99.59

spelaeus

49,788 ± 1,006^*,77,

>45,000

TU841

Paina, IT

4.5

73.2

ingressus C

20,015 ± 46²⁴

24,275–23,880

TU842

Paina, IT

17

97.34

ingressus C

NA

TU843

Paina, IT

25.8

98.77

ingressus C

19,914 ± 45²⁴

24.167–23.764

TU844

Paina, IT

6.5

87.18

ingressus C

19,975 ± 46²⁴

24,234–23,839

TU847

Paina, IT

17.7

98.22

ingressus C

NA

TU848

Broion, IT

121.5

99.67

ingressus C

29,001 ± 123²⁴

33,597–32,844

TU851

Broion, IT

9.2

93.68

ingressus C

NA

TU852

Broion, IT

6.2

84.06

ingressus C

25,978 ± 70²⁴

30.630–29,855

TU853

Trene, IT

4.9

75.44

ingressus C

25,290 ± 66²⁴

29,599–29,079

TU854

Trene, IT

27

98.64

ingressus C

24,755 ± 63²⁴

28,977–28,566

TU855

Trene, IT

27.7

98.81

ingressus C

19,656 ± 44²⁴

23,907–23,461

TU857

Trene, IT

73

99.14

ingressus C

NA

TU860

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

39.2

99.44

ingressus C

41,446 ± 638^*,28

45,448–44,335

TU861

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

752.5

99.74

ingressus SE

40,200 ± 1,200²⁸

44,775–42,905

TU863

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

319.5

99.73

ingressus SE

41,600 ± 1,400²⁸

46,176–43,715

TU865

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

219.2

99.72

ingressus C

47,538 ± 1,337^*,28

…−48,934

TU866

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

114.4

99.64

ingressus SE

NA

TU867

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

551.7

99.74

ingressus SE

NA

TU868

Perspektywiczna Cave, PL

101.4

99.64

ingressus C

NA